Studying with children, setting up a business and building a house on the side? It's no walk in the park - and often a daily balancing act between exhaustion and ambition. Our graduate Gianina Wallner, who completed both the Bachelor and the Master's degree in International Business Relations at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, shows that you can surpass yourself (and fly) even in intense phases of life. She has now discovered kite surfing in her free time and there are some parallels to her student days. But from the beginning...

Before deciding to study, Gianina worked for several years as a sales manager for a large international company - with clients such as METRO, Hornbach and OBI. Even at a young age, she travelled a lot for work. These experiences not only strengthened her international negotiating skills, but also her intercultural competence and her ability to communicate clearly and purposefully across language and cultural boundaries. At the same time, she developed a deep understanding of economic interrelationships - an ideal basis for studying international economic relations.

In addition to two young daughters, she mastered her studies, supported the development of her husband's company and at the same time accompanied the construction of her own home. Between lectures, project work, everyday family life and business plans, time out often falls by the wayside - but Gianina sees it differently: "Many small windows of time open up during the course of the day. I've learnt to use them more consciously."

She felt at home at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences right from the start. "The atmosphere, the people, the openness - I simply felt at home here and at some point I couldn't imagine not being part of it." When a position became available, she didn't hesitate - today she has been part of the team for five years, now contributing her diverse experience as a colleague and has found her very own way of clearing her head: Kitesurfing on Lake Neusiedl.

Kitesurfing is like studying - you need the motivation and the right wind

Last year, she started a kitesurfing course at the renowned kite school in Podersdorf - Kite2Fly. What began as a curious leisure endeavour quickly developed into a new passion. "At the beginning you despair - there are so many lines, wind directions and techniques. Similar to studying. But ever since I felt the power of the kite and experienced the potential of the wind, I've been drawn to Lake Neusiedl again and again - and with good support and patience, you eventually find the flow," says Gianina.

Kiting & studying - more similarities than you might think

At first glance, the two worlds could hardly be more different, but a closer look reveals parallels:

• You literally have to get stuck in: Whether you're writing a master's thesis, building a house or launching a kite - nothing works without dedication.
• The wind is not always on your side: sometimes things just don't work out. Then it's time to stay calm, analyse, adjust and start again.
• Everything is easier with the right backing: support from coaches, mentors and colleagues is very important in both studying and kiting.
• You have to remain realistic: While children still have an almost unlimited amount of energy, this is (unfortunately) no longer the case for us adults. There are days when we are bursting with energy and there are days when our bodies need more rest. When studying and kiting, it is important to pay attention to your body's energy levels. But first of all: exercise increases blood circulation and improves the cardiovascular system. This in turn automatically leads to an increase in energy levels = a great balance to studying ;-).
• Failure is part of it: Especially in the initial phase, many things don't go as you would like them to. That.happens.that.is.ok. What scares you at first can be the start of something bigger. Studies show that the brain reacts to failure by activating the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex region - a process that promotes learning processes and favours personal growth.

Kitesurfing has been growing in popularity for several years now and we are delighted that Gianina's passion has now given rise to a small collaboration: the Podersdorf Kite School - Kite2Fly is now offering a 10% discount for all students and employees of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences. Simply show your student or employee ID card.

At Kite2Fly you can go kitesurfing, wing foiling, windsurfing and e-foiling. There are also SUP courses or SUP hire for the more leisurely. Info & registration here.

There is still the opportunity to apply for a remaining place on the Bachelor's degree programme in International Business Relations. Information at www.hochschule-burgenland.at