Podcast #16: Redefine yourself in your studies

Twelve years: that's how long we usually spend at school before we have our A-levels in the bag. Education therefore plays a major role in a young person's life. As a result, our school career also shapes our professional future and sets a certain direction even as teenagers. But what happens when you realise after graduating from school or in the middle of your working life that you see yourself in a completely different career? It's not always easy to embark on a new path, especially as a young person. Because you may not even know where your interests lie if you haven't been in touch with them before.

If you say A, you don't have to say B

That's what happened to our two podcast guests: while Nina used to go to fashion school, studied economics for a short time and travelled the world as a flight attendant, among other things, she is now a student on our Bachelor's degree in Building and Energy Technology.

Nikolaus, on the other hand, graduated from a secondary school and worked as a quality manager in a mechanical engineering company for ten years. At the age of 30, he finally ventured into a new career with a bachelor's degree in healthcare and nursing.

Gender stereotypes and self-discovery

As you may notice, the two were not only working in a completely controversial field, but also in an industry that was "typical" for their gender. Quite the opposite of today. The big decision to realise themselves in a completely different field was not an easy one, but it was worth it. Both Nikolaus and Nina are happy with their decision today.

Happy that they decided in favour of themselves instead of living up to external expectations. In our new podcast episode, you can find out how they experienced this drastic change of direction, what tips they would recommend to their younger teenage selves and what they think of gender stereotypes in the world of work today.

Behind the scenes

The podcast was recorded by Bianca Nastl, a member of the marketing department at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences and a graduate of the university herself. "Who knows at the age of 14 where they want to go? I didn't know: or maybe I secretly knew and still decided in favour of the school career that seemed obvious to me. Looking back, I'm not dissatisfied with my career at a HAK, but I still always saw myself in a creative rather than a commercial field." For her, her studies were an opportunity for self-realisation. "It allowed me to develop in an area that really interested me. At the age of 14, I wasn't yet able to make this decision - in other words, where I saw myself professionally."

The podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other popular platforms.

You can also find our other podcast episodes on our website under the "Podcast" tab.