As of: March 12, 2024, 2:51 p.m
By: Ulrike Osman
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Discussed the hurdles on the way to adulthood: Simon Gall, Mia Fischer, Paulina Zinkl, Magdalena Nägelsbach, Justin Barckholt, Yvonne Wagner and Katharina Mayer (from left).
© Osman
The panel discussion series “Education in Focus” organized by the district office deals with the challenges of being young.
Eight evenings focus on the hurdles of growing up and the difficulties of transitioning from school to the working world.
“Why is being young so stressful?” was the question during the panel discussion at the Kaufering secondary school.
Kaufering - One reason may be the difficulty of finding the right career for yourself in the abundance of options.
There are over 9,500 bachelor's degree programs and more than 300 vocational training courses to choose from, as moderator Magdalena Nägelsbach, education coordinator at the district office, said.
Justin Barckholt, one of the six guests on the podium, is likely to be the exception.
At 16 years old, the student representative of the Johann Baptist Middle School Fuchstal and deputy district student representative knows exactly where the journey should go.
He wants to become a police officer.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”
Others would prefer to stay in the education system and go to the FOS, for example, in order to have time to think about it, Magdalena Nägelsbach reported from her own experience.
Despite good high school diplomas and a scholarship to a US university, he too was “completely lost,” said 29-year-old Simon Gall.
Who also thought it was “complete nonsense” that when you reach adulthood you automatically become an adult.
“It took me until my mid-20s to find myself somewhat.”
Lots of self-reflection
Finding yourself – that is what learning coach Yvonne Wagner from Landsberg sees as a major goal for her clients.
She supports children from the 2nd grade up to 25-year-olds and observes “a lot of self-reflection,” the desire for personal growth and a fulfilling career in teenagers and young adults.
Parents are also primarily interested in “making sure their children are happy.”
Young people want to take care of themselves - this was also shown by the response to a mental health day at the St. Ottilien high school, which the student representatives Paulina Zinkl and Mia Fischer reported on.
Among other things, relaxation techniques and yoga were taught.
“Eighth and ninth graders came.
We were amazed at how well they participated.”
School stress, pressure to perform, exam anxiety – in fact, the likelihood of mental illness occurring is particularly high in adolescence.
At the Landsberg vocational school, school social worker Katharina Mayer is available to support teenagers and young adults with problems.
The offer is “very, very well booked,” reported Katharina Mayer.