In conversation with Dr. Raphael Nagel - April 2023

The former Schloss-Schule pupil left the Schloss-Schule in 1987 with his secondary school leaving certificate. Raphael now lives with his family in Dubai, travels the world, is a turnaround investor and looks back on his time at Schloss-Schule with gratitude.

What is the first thing that spontaneously comes to mind when you think of your time at the Schloss-Schule?
We simply had a lot of fun back then - that's the first thing that comes to mind! I was very happy with the lessons and the educational measures. It was very different to how I had previously experienced school. The contact between the teachers, the boarding school staff and us students was on an equal footing and characterized by openness and patience. You were accepted just as you were.

What stages did you go through at school before Schloss-Schule?
I went to elementary school in Heilbronn until the 2nd grade. I then went to Barcelona with my parents and returned to Germany in 1983. Here I went straight into the 5th grade at Schloss-Schule.

What changed when you attended the Schloss-Schule?
I was very sheltered and everything at Schloss-Schule was like a different world for me at first. I first had to learn how to integrate into a group. There were still four of us in the rooms back then. That was a huge change! Working in a group was also completely new to me, the loyalty, the communication with others. I got to know all the social aspects in a completely new way. I received a lot of help here and was able to experience group dynamics as a positive aspect and effect for the first time.

What did you experience as formative at the SK? What values, life lessons or other influences have stayed with you to this day?
The teaching of values such as tolerance towards those who think differently and the associated acceptance and free thinking were extremely formative for me. To this day, I am infinitely grateful to Mr. Borchers for showing us children and young people, through his way of working with people, how objective discussions can be conducted successfully and what effect they have. He also exemplified and conveyed discipline, a strong focus on results, well-structured time management, the importance of friendship and that it can often be very beneficial to take a step back sometimes. His behavior showed me how you can motivate people to follow you without fear and power as a means, and that it is extremely important to keep working on yourself!

What happened after Schloss-Schule?
I completed an apprenticeship as a forwarding agent in Heilbronn. After that, I studied business administration while working and then went into the banking and finance industry with a focus on corporate restructuring. I then worked for many different companies and lived in several countries around the world. I also studied law. Now I have been living in Dubai with my family for about 8 years, I am a turnaround investor and active in various sectors and industries.

Which stories and anecdotes from your time at the school should not be missed?
The stories are very dependent on the people I would meet. There are many pranks and stories that I have experienced with different people and would share again.

What are you grateful for?
First of all, for being alive! I had a heart attack a good 10 years ago and I'm just glad that I'm still here!
I'm also grateful for the things that didn't go so well. I've often had the chance to apologize to people when I've done something wrong and make amends.
I am grateful for many friendships, the great patience, also here at the school, and that everyone persevered and believed in me, even if it wasn't always easy. The school really made a great effort. Kirchberg was my personal "Save Heaven" at the time I lived here.
Looking back, I can clearly say that even all the negative things were and are very important for me and my life. I came out of everything stronger and am happy to be able to forgive and forgive.

Looking back on your school days, what would you do differently today?
I would try to behave differently socially as an adolescent. I would also show more understanding for the teachers. Because I often didn't behave properly, I had to do social work with disabled children. In retrospect, this helped me and my social skills enormously. Today, I would certainly claim that it didn't have to come to that!

Would you like to support the school and the current pupils in the future? If so, what could you imagine?
That would be a great honor and I would be very happy to do so! It is important to me to give something back to the school that it has given me. Without attending the Schloss-Schule, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.
In principle, I can imagine a great deal of support. I would love to help children and young people who perhaps find it difficult to cope with structures. I would be happy to be a point of contact here.
It would also be very conceivable for me to support the Schloss-Schule in raising its international profile. Cooperation with the school and the pupils is also conceivable.
I could really imagine a lot here and would like us to be in contact and exchange ideas. From my point of view, many things are conceivable and I look forward to supporting them!

What else would you like to say?
The Schloss-Schule has taught me a lot. Above all, I learned from the way we interact with each other and that many things were exemplified and implemented as a matter of course in everyday life.
For me, this includes, for example, the ability to think independently. Through exchanges and discussions at eye level, we were taken seriously as students back then, we were able to think our thoughts through to the end and learned the ability to reflect and listen to other opinions, to take them seriously and to include other arguments in our own opinion-forming. There was no stubborn black-and-white thinking here. There is also not always one truth. The ability to change perspective and be tolerant of others who don't share your views is something that has shaped me a lot.
This kind of interaction promotes personal development immensely and strengthens openness and acceptance. Discussion groups, such as those that took place at the boarding school, were also very helpful here.
I also learned during my time that it is essential to maintain a balance. This is actually transferable to everything. To this day, sport and reading are a balance that is firmly established in my life.
Finally, I would just like to express my thanks once again! I look forward to intensifying my contact with the Schloss-Schule again...