Ms. Schopen, you are in charge of the advanced training college of the Aachen city region, an evening school and college where adults can catch up on their Abitur.

How do you get back into learning?

Ursula Kals

Editor in business, responsible for "Youth writes".

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They must have a goal in mind and also be willing to seek help when they get stuck.

As an adult, you have to know when you need support.

They not only learn to accept themselves, but to find ways of dealing with their weaknesses.

Doctor's household with books and piano lessons, smooth educational backgrounds are rather rare.

We have people here who have experienced setbacks time and time again, who have dug their way out of difficult situations.

But there are also very self-confident people who complain when they expected an A and "only" got a B.

But there are also many students at our school whose parents are very successful in their jobs and feel relieved that their children are still doing their Abitur.

But many also come with a straight CV, middle school qualifications, vocational training

Why are students' school biographies often so cracked?

There are many reasons for a crooked resume.

Sometimes there were longer phases of illness and people missed the connection.

Or there are language difficulties.

Quite a few of your graduates have already had successful jobs.

We see that often.

They consciously chose an apprenticeship, a profession and then realized that I can do more.

There are people with us who were satisfied in a certain way, but in the long run the limits were too narrow for them.

You want to develop yourself.

What increases the chances of holding out until the matriculation examination?

Good advice in advance about which model fits.

There are several options from morning classes to evening classes with a high proportion of home study.

The motivation and the will to obtain a better educational qualification must be present.

The courage to give up what you have achieved so far and start anew.

The desire to learn.

Time management, financing, job and possibly childcare must be clarified before school starts.

Everyone should be aware that school must now be the focus.

Which subjects cause the most problems?

Many in second chance education have problems with mathematics.

We have to advise them.

We also ask: what do you do if it stays at five?

Then we consider how other subjects can compensate for this.

There are almost always solutions.

Contact at eye level, the keyword often comes up in conversations with your graduates.

For many this seems a new experience.

Some report that they were in a school environment where they were only criticized and also laughed at.

They feel like losers, bring the feeling of failure with them and transfer that to other areas.

And you break through this devastating feeling here?

That's the way to say it.

When fear of failure arises, we seek dialogue.

We often encounter mistakes in the first path of education.

I say: With this registration a new life begins for you!

They then ask: Really?

And I say: Yes!

and ask: Who decides that you get the degree?

- Herself!