In conversation with Ms. Bärbel Borchers - August 2023

The granddaughter of Amalie Pfündel, who was fundamental to the Schloss-Schule, looks back gratefully on her childhood and youth. She has been on the board of the Schloss-Schul Verein since July 2023 and is passionate about bringing former pupils closer together again and carrying on the intentions of her grandmother and her parents.

What is the first thing that spontaneously comes to mind when you think of your time at Schloss-Schule?
It was all just very familiar. As a child, I always felt like I was part of a big family here on the grounds. There was always someone around. One of them taught me how to ride a bike and I went ice skating with another group. That was really great! I got to know so many people during the whole time and still have good contact with a lot of them. What I also remember very fondly is that our house was always open to everyone.

Of course, it was often special for me because I was the principal's daughter as well as a pupil. But I quickly learned to deal with that.

What stages did you go through at school before Schloss-Schule?
I spent my primary school years directly opposite the newly built school. I had a good time there too. We had very large classes with over 40 pupils and very nice teachers. I really enjoyed being there. I also remember a great sports program, but I think that came from the sports club.

What has changed for you at the Schloss-Schule?
At the Schloss-Schule, I was the daughter of "Bo". Of course, it was different to before. It wasn't always easy either. When I got good grades, people sometimes questioned why I got them. But that eventually died down. My parents would have liked to see me and my siblings as role models for the young people at boarding school. To their regret, I didn't always live up to these expectations (she smiles). On the other hand, they were also very liberal and I had a lot of freedom compared to my friends at the time. But there were also so many pupils at the boarding school that my parents had to look after that the focus wasn't always so much on their own children.

What did you experience as formative at the Schloss-Schule? What values, life lessons or other influences have stayed with you to this day?
I learned and was taught by my parents that everyone has to make their contribution to the community. And without expecting anything in return and without thinking about what personal benefit you can gain from it. Tolerance was also a core value for us. Everyone was treated equally and origin played no role. Everyone was allowed to be who they were to a certain extent.

My father also always believed that everyone deserved a second chance.

Because some of the students' parents were less well-off, the idea was born that there had to be support for those who needed it, so that everyone had the opportunity to get a good education and financial means were not a knock-out criterion. Everything was done to ensure that every pupil could go on excursions. My father really fought and campaigned for this. This also gave rise to the idea of the Schloss-Schul Verein and the Amalie Pfündel Fund.

What happened after the Schloss-Schule?
When I was in my early/mid-20s, my parents moved away from the Schloss-Schul grounds. That also distanced me from the school, because it simply wasn't the life we had lived before. I lived in Kochertal for a while, then moved back to Kirchberg in my late 20s, got married and had two children.

I trained in textile retail and insurance and worked in these sectors, mainly in sales and training.

A little later, I decided to study in Erding and studied training and coaching at the University of Applied Management. This was followed by self-employment in this field. This work is still with me today. I have specialized and now accompany people with health restrictions.

And because I like to be creative, I recently completed further training to become a color and style consultant and work here in a boutique in Schwäbisch Hall.

In my free time, I am actively involved in the nature conservation association in Kirchberg and, together with my nephew, I keep a small herd of goats and sheep for landscape conservation.

What stories and anecdotes from your time at the school are not to be missed?
The old school reunions in the quarry were legendary. I was there as a pupil in the 1970s and it was an experience every time. What I also remember very well are the reunions at our grandmother's house in the garden. The alumni always came here and we chatted in the fan garden and enjoyed the time together. The good old days were simply celebrated in a relaxed atmosphere, whether in the quarry or in the garden. I also have very fond memories of the ski trips in Schwaz. We always had great fun there. During the day, we were divided into different groups depending on our ability and later in the afternoon we had a "Gentle Angel" at the Hotel Grafenast. This was an ice cream sundae made from vanilla ice cream and orange juice and was something very special for me back then.

There were always project weeks just before the summer vacations. I still remember the sphere project very well. This huge wooden ball, which still exists today, was rolled through the whole of Kirchberg, which caused quite a stir at the time.

What are you grateful for?
I am extremely grateful to my grandmother for having the courage and stamina after the war to build something so big. I am also very grateful to my parents for continuing all of this. I had a wonderful childhood and youth here. I am also grateful for the good education I received and for the many wonderful people I got to know through the Schloss-Schule and still have contact with to this day. That really is something very special for me.

Looking back on your time at school, what would you do differently today?
I would pay more attention at school today and make better use of the time I spend at school anyway. And I would have liked to have been interested in more things as a teenager. I only became quite ambitious from the 10th grade onwards. Today, I wish I had been ambitious before that. And I would be braver and more daring in my career choice today. My dream job would actually have been to be a forester or to study sport. But I just didn't dare to do that back then.

What else would you like to say? And what is important to you in relation to your role in the Schloss-Schul-Verein?
I want to do everything I can to ensure that all pupils are able to take part in the activities on offer at the school. That there are no boundaries or differences in terms of financial circumstances. It is also very important to me that the large Schloss-Schul network is reactivated and that contacts can be revived. That the "we-feeling" can be felt again and that the emotional bond between the old pupils and the school is nurtured. Figuratively speaking, that the bond between the school and the pupils is not severed when they leave the school, but continues to exist. It would be great if everyone recognized the opportunities that this community could and can provide.

Is there anything else you would like to say?
I would very much like to encourage young people to have confidence in themselves and to dare to do something. Even if you fail, it's not a bad thing and you can always move on!