“We want because we’re wanting. Both senses of the word. The lacking and the longing, all rolled into one. The more you find yourself wanting, the more you want.” This was one quote I read in a book when I was staying in Germany in November 2024. It reminded me of how I finally decided to study in Germany.
Back in 2022, I was a part of the student exchange program initiated by SMPK 2 Harapan and Brunsbuettel Gymnasium Germany, supported by Professor-Nowak-Stiftung. Being a part of it meant I was able to see, feel, and live in Germany for two weeks. The immersive experience had been eye-opening to such a whole different world than mine. Following this, the feelings of wanting to go back and discover more of Germany grew stronger each time. Especially due to my interest in biomedical engineering and knowing that Germany is remarkable in the field.
With this in mind, it was not a tough decision to accept the funding scholarship by Professor- Nowak-Stiftung to have an internship at a medical technology company in Hamburg and a short excursion around Germany after I graduated high school. Without knowing that the struggle to enter Germany as a young Indonesian woman who was under 18 was surprisingly tough. My visa application was rejected twice by the German Visa Department, hence the flight schedule and the internship were postponed and rescheduled as well. From when May 2024 should been my departure, until September 2024 I finally landed in Hamburg, it was all by full support (emotionally and technically) of the foundation. Eventually, I had my internship at WEINMANN Emergency for approximately three weeks. There, it was the first time I was introduced to the professional world as well as medical technology work. Since I had just recently graduated high school and had no extensive knowledge in the medical or engineering field, I was surprised yet amazed. The company itself has great products along with a great working environment as well, filled with both equally competent women and men, whereas the STEM field is usually dominated by men. Furthermore, it was the perfect environment for interns since we were located at the same corner and had this weekly meeting agenda, where we could discuss any problems or ask any questions. Besides that, every lunchtime was the time I could gain so many insights from other motivated students that are currently studying in some interesting majors. My supervisor was a smart and kind man who guided and introduced me to various fields of engineering. I learned some hard skills such as coding, wiring, and soldering as I combined them for my Loudness Sensor project.
Having those three weeks of internship at WEINMANN leads me to be more assured in pursuing engineering. Additionally, I also met an inspiring young woman who shared her experience as a student in the same field, which is just equally appreciated here. Moreover we also did a short excursion to Magdeburg and did a campus tour of OVGU Magdeburg led by a woman –such a role model of a successful woman in STEM–, hence I am strongly firm now that I want to dive deep into the engineering field, especially in Germany. Not specifically biomedical engineering as I planned it before the internship but general engineering science for my bachelor, because I would like to have a strong basis and learn the fundamental of engineering first before specializing in the medical field.
On the other hand, what reassure me to study here were the generous people I encountered along the way, the beautiful landscape of Germany, the cultures and way of life, even the temperature –that I need to learn on how to adapt better over time though–. Staying in Germany for only two weeks had only feel like a highlight, but two months had given me a preview of what it’s like to live like a German. I was lucky to had the chance to stay with a lovely German family in a medium sized city like Hamburg, visit a big metropolitan city like Berlin, and experience a country side life in a village like Meezen. It certainly gave me a new perspective. Everything are totally different than the place I was growing up, Bali and it is effortless to find differences everywhere. The season, the building, the people, the food, the rules, the cultures, and so on. Nevertheless, that what makes the intercultural experience so worthy. I learn how to adapt with all the cultural differences I found along the way while introducing what it’s like in my country. We exchanged a lot of informations, the pros and cons between places, and what can we learn for the better.
Finally, as I mentioned my wonderful experience of learning, working, and exploring for a short period of time in Germany to the members of Professor-Nowak-Stiftung, we are in the agreeable terms that I am going to Germany for higher education. That is to say that after coming back to Indonesia, I have to strengthen my German knowledge by level B2 as one of the required documents for the Studienkolleg admission. In short, with the high school leaving certificate I have from Indonesia, it is not equivalent to the German Abitur. As a consequence, I am required to have a subject restricted preparatory course in a Studienkolleg before entering an University in Germany. For international students who are not sure of the requirements or whether your certificate is qualified or not, there is a website to check it (https://www.uni-assist.de/). After having the Festellungspruefung at the end of the Studienkolleg, then I may apply to a University.
Regina Alexandra Changgadireja
