A new phase of life, unfamiliar buildings and lots of unfamiliar faces: student teacher Nils Wierenberg reveals how to find your feet in your first semester.
Out of school and into university - that doesn't just mean new freedoms, but also more responsibility. Especially when it comes to organising yourself. Like many students, Nils Wierenberg first had to get used to this. His start to student life in Oldenburg was therefore not as relaxed as expected. The Delmenhorst native began his teacher training programme in German Studies, Philosophy and Values and Standards in 2017. Motivated to the core, he enrolled for almost twice as many courses as recommended by lecturers and experienced students. A challenging exam phase at the end of the semester was the reward. Today he is in his fifth semester and has survived the leap into the deep end. "Once you know how everything works and what you should choose, studying is a very, very nice thing," says Nils, who also enjoys the freedom that comes with it. When it comes to organising the timetable, his advice is: "Listen to your lecturers right from the start."
Nils would like to work as a secondary school teacher one day. He realised early on that his path would lead him to Oldenburg. "The university has a pretty good reputation for teacher training programmes, especially for the subject of German. It's also close to my home town." Nils commutes every day - no problem for him. "It takes me 40 minutes by train from my front door to the seminar room. And if you do miss a bus, you can take a leisurely stroll through the pedestrian zone." He also enjoys spending time with friends in Oldenburg city centre. The 21-year-old met many of them during the orientation week at the start of his studies. It is organised by the university and the student bodies. The programme includes rallies and pub evenings, and his older fellow students also help him create his timetable via the Stud.IP campus management system. Nils recommends the O-Week to all first-semester students: "You get to know both the university and your fellow students. The timetable help was very important for me because I really didn't have a clue at the beginning."
A strong will pays off
Manoeuvring his way through university life on his own and not having everything dictated to him like at school was the biggest change for Nils. He also had to prepare differently for his written exams. At school, it was enough for him to look at the material the evening before, but now more planning is required. While many of his fellow students practise best in groups, Nils finds it particularly helpful to write study notes. And to have an iron will. "Then I sit down at my desk at home and say to myself: 'So, you're going to do this now'," he says. It's even comparatively easy for him: "Unlike at school, studying is much more enjoyable because I'm studying things that I really enjoy."
If Nils needs a break from books, he can be in the city centre in just ten minutes by bus or bike from the Haarentor campus. In any case, there are plenty of leisure activities on offer: "Oldenburg offers culture, sport and nightlife - there's something for everyone here. And the university itself also has an incredible charm. It's green and not too big or too small," says Nils with satisfaction. There are volleyball courts on the Wechloy campus, for example, and the surrounding area is ideal for barbecues or relaxing. Nils knows how important it is to relax from time to time. His tip for new students: "Take it easy and don't get stressed. Everything will settle down."
