“Once you stop learning, you start dying.” As simple as this saying from Albert Einstein sounds, it holds a very profound meaning that has long guided me. In my late 20s, a few years into my full-time job, I found myself wondering (as many people probably do), “Am I happy with what I am doing for a living?” This question led me to start thinking about what it is really, that makes me happy and fulfilled. I will spare you the details of the months I spent thinking, reading books, and searching the internet for answers and jump right to the conclusion: It is learning new things! I discovered that the process of trying something new or learning new skills is what fills me with happiness and excitement. It turns out I have what is famously – or infamously – called “Campaigner Personality” (ENFP according to Myers-Briggs). At that point it was crystal clear to me: I had to go back to university and study something part-time.
Being born in Kuwait, raised in Egypt, and moving to Germany alone when I was 20, I didn’t necessarily get a chance to put down roots. Between my parents relocating for work and me for both my studies and work, I had moved nine times until I finally settled in Frankfurt. With that “semi-nomadic” lifestyle, feeling like you belong somewhere didn’t necessarily come easy. However, while I was visiting different business schools and talking to their staff and students, Frankfurt School clearly stood out to me. Their very friendly, yet professional, attitude and their true international mindset made me feel very welcomed.
Admittedly an overwhelmingly large part of my decision to do a Part-time MBA at Frankfurt School was based on gut feeling. I remember though the first time I felt that decision validated was already during the MBA Opening Ceremony when a Frankfurt School alumna held the keynote speech. She started by saying “As I look out over this new MBA class, do you know what I see? Imposters. Two hundred imposters wondering if you should be here. But what is amazing is, that it is exactly why all of you do, in fact, belong….’ Jessica Joy Morris gave a one-of-a-kind speech, which I will not spoil for you, but I highly recommend you go and check it out here. She did go on to say at a later point in her speech ‘…You are not the finished version of yourself. It is time to stop thinking of yourself as an imposter and instead see a masterpiece in progress. You are becoming the best version of yourself that you can be.’ That speech resonated so much in my head. As it might have been the first time someone has put so beautifully into words the thoughts that have been running around in my head for the last few years.
That speech and the experiences I had at FS so far reassured me that I have made the right decision. I believe the connections built at this school will last far longer than the MBA programme. This does not just feel like a school to me, it feels like my community – the place I belong.
If you are someone who moved to Germany in the last few years or is planning to do so soon, or if you enjoy learning new things and meeting amazing like-minded people from all around the world, I am putting my thoughts and experiences out there to tell you two things: First, you are not alone! And second, Frankfurt School might be what you are looking for.
Frankfurt School gGmbH
Adickesallee 32-34
60322 Frankfurt am Main
