Field report Melanie Dietsche - Master in Business Education

"I wanted both and thought: it must be possible!"

02. September 2020 – erschienen unter https://www.littleyears.de/blog/ich-wollte-beides-und-dachte-das-muss-doch-moglich-sein/

How can this work? Studying while working and also starting a family life? This was precisely the question that drove business teacher Melanie Dietsche when she was working and felt the need to take on a Master's degree. She opted for a distance learning course at Allensbach University - and became pregnant in the process. This was not, as one might expect, tricky, but absolutely unproblematic. A great example of compatibility, which Melanie talks about here.

Dear Melanie! What was your educational background like before your Master's degree?

"I was at secondary school and didn't know what I wanted to do. That changed when I did a work placement as an industrial clerk in year 8. I was really enthusiastic about it straight away, I just found business really exciting. I then went to a business school to catch up on my secondary school leaving certificate and then did my Abitur at a business high school. I knew that I wanted to study business administration or economics and considered a classical course of study for a long time. But as I'm the first in my family to go to university, it was more financially feasible for me to do a dual course of study. I completed my Bachelor's degree in business administration (specializing in industry) and on my 24th birthday I had my Bachelor's degree in my hand, which was a great feeling for me. I was proud, but I also realized that it was only the first milestone in my education."

What happened next?

"Immediately afterwards, I got a job in controlling at the company where I completed my practical phases, an airbag manufacturer. I liked it - the tasks were challenging and I was up to them - but I quickly realized that I wanted more. In the evenings, I tutored friends in business studies and at some point I realized that I was already looking forward to these tutoring sessions in the mornings because they required a broader range of specialist knowledge. I then came across business education relatively quickly, but initially only found full-time attendance courses."

How did you come across Allensbach University?

"I moved in with my husband straight after leaving school and financed myself alone. So I was financially independent early on. That's why I was looking for a way to continue to finance myself. I very quickly came across Allensbach University, because the degree course in Business Education there is the only one in Germany that is structured as a distance learning course. I also found a 60 percent job in the financial administration department at the University of Freiburg and started my studies in October 2016."

How was your studies?

"Really good - I asked a graduate from the previous university in advance and I knew it was the right thing for me. Distance learning requires a lot of discipline, but I have no problems with that. I've always been the type to sit down at night to get even more points. I enjoyed the course even more than the bachelor's degree, where I often had doubts. It was a 180-degree turn, much more in-depth and interesting. Lecturers from renowned universities also teach at Allensbach University, and you could tell from the quality of the teaching. I was challenged, but at the same time it was manageable."

What role did family planning play during this time?

"When I started my studies, I was already thinking about having children. It was clear to me that I wanted to become a mother relatively early, ideally in my mid-20s, but I had the feeling that society still expects women to either study and have a career or have children in their twenties, but not both. But I wanted both and thought: it must be possible!".

And was it possible?

"Yes, I started my studies in October 2016, got married in May 2017 and my son was born in July 2018. The first 16 weeks of my pregnancy were really hard - I was constantly nauseous. Once I went to an exam day and I was already nauseous on the way to the exam center. The next day, I told the exam invigilator that I might well jump up and leave the room without warning. I just threw up so often and I was a bit worried, but the invigilator was totally understanding and first congratulated me on my pregnancy and even said that I could make up the time I lost in the toilet during the exam. After the first 16 weeks, things went uphill for me, I was full of energy and worked through one module after the other. Shortly before the birth, I started a term paper and was assured that I would be able to hand it in after the birth if the baby came early, because at times it looked like that might be the case. Everyone was really considerate of me and my situation."

What happened when your little Niklas was born?

"We had a really nice, relaxed start as a family. I took two months to settle in with the new baby. Then I really felt like doing something for university again. I had already written the exams before the birth and saved the homework for afterwards. I then wrote them at night. When my son was one year old, I started working five hours two mornings a week. I set myself a specific grade target - I definitely wanted to achieve an A in front of the decimal point - and made time for it. I completed my studies in October 2019 with a grade of 1.6!".

And did you benefit from the degree?

"Definitely! Originally, I wanted to do a traineeship as a vocational school teacher for business administration and economics, which you can also do part-time. But after a few months I realized that it didn't suit me and I dropped out in mid-June this year. Now I've found a great alternative that suits me and my family much better: I'm a lecturer at a private training provider and teach people who are retraining for commercial professions. I do this three mornings a week for five hours each time the little one is with the childminder. And I'm also building up my own business as a tutor for commercial subjects as well as learning and job application coaching. I wouldn't have been able to do all this without the degree! So I've really benefited from studying at Allensbach University."

Thank you so much for your insights, Melanie!