In conversation with Hannah Vonberg - November 2024

The former Schloss School student currently lives in Halifax and successfully completed her master's degree in environmental science in fall 2024. She graduated from high school in 2018 and is working on the important topic of microplastics.

What is the first thing that spontaneously comes to mind when you think of your time at the Schloss-Schule?
The first thing that comes to mind is actually the school grounds. The nature, the animals, the climbing frame. Above all, being able to be outside when you were sitting in class all the time. Looking back, nature was important even back then - now I know why...
For me, the Schloss-Schule was always a foregone conclusion. My parents actually wanted me to look at other secondary schools, but that wasn't an issue for me. Schloss-Schule was a dream come true.

What did you find different at Schloss-Schule compared to elementary school?
The language lessons were really great! I can still remember that very well. Today I know that this was also fundamental for my future career after school and gave me a lot of self-confidence. I always had a lot of fun with languages!
At the beginning, everything you learn is somehow abstract. But from year 10 onwards, the content became more concrete and application-oriented, so I developed a better idea and new motivation, especially with the languages. It was also clear that if I wanted to go abroad, it was really important that I knew English well. That gives you a completely different sense of purpose.
I also always had the feeling that I could develop at my own pace and that the teachers were very open and supportive.

What changed for you at the Schloss-Schule?
Sometimes it just took me longer - not in terms of learning, but on a personal level. And this was possible at the Schloss-Schule. It was also possible to learn some subjects in a very practical way: For example, I was in the big band for a few years instead of attending classical music theory. That was simply exciting and fun, and the music has stayed with me to this day - I still play the trumpet. And the AG's and the supplementary lessons in the higher classes also help you to learn in a different way and gain more experience than if you "only" attended classical lessons.

I also loved the course system in the upper school. The small groups and the proximity to the teachers were very helpful for me and resulted in a closer relationship. I gained a lot more confidence, not only for myself personally, but also confidence in my decisions. This was an important foundation for the rest of my life!

What did you find formative at the SK? What values, life lessons or other influences have stayed with you to this day?
For me, it wasn't so much words or wisdom in the classic sense. I was lucky enough to have teachers whose personalities became role models for me. The way they dealt with us, the way they organized the lessons, taught me natural authority, how to treat people as equals and how to lead a group. It wasn't about their own sensitivities or power. I felt that they were at peace with themselves and satisfied and didn't have to compensate for anything. I found that very impressive.

Even outside of school and after school, you can and could still turn to the teachers for support. This serves as a role model for me and is very inspiring.

What happened after Schloss-Schule?
After graduating, I wanted to take a year off and find my bearings, so I did voluntary work with an environmental organization on Lake Constance. Here I got to know scientific work and discovered my passion for it. Here, theory and practice were close together for me, and I also liked the versatility of the work. However, I then pursued my other main area of interest: After the year at Lake Constance, I went to the Netherlands, to The Hague, to study International Relations. This course was not available in Germany at the time. Unfortunately, I slipped right into the corona period, which of course overshadowed the opportunities and the course of studies, as everywhere else. During this time, however, I still had the opportunity to go to Halifax for a semester in environmental sciences. And I seized this opportunity. I really enjoyed it and realized that I was still very interested in the environment and that the field of international relations didn't make as much sense to me as I had imagined for my professional future. I then completed my Bachelor's degree in The Hague and was able to return to Halifax for my Master's degree in Environmental Sciences. I have just successfully completed my Master's degree in the fall of 2024. And I am currently doing part-time research in my chosen field of microplastics, which was also the subject of my Master's thesis. The global spread of this pollutant and what it means for us as a global community is incredibly important! The research into how microplastics behave, which mechanisms influence this behavior and, above all, how we can remove microplastics and what technology is required to do so is fundamental and incredibly exciting.
What some of my colleagues have also discovered in studies is that microplastics can already be found in samples when there was actually no plastic production at all. This is also extremely exciting and raises many questions that still need to be researched.
There are incredibly great and interesting people working in this entire field, including a striking number of women. It is a great pleasure to work in such a positive environment, to continue to learn new things every day and to get involved.

Thanks to my insights into international relations and now environmental sciences, I realize that I find it easier to understand global connections and political mechanisms and to link political and environmental issues. I think that in the future I will have many opportunities to work purposefully and meaningfully for positive developments in and for the world! For me, that is THE motivation par excellence!

Professionally, I am now moving on to Halifax and Toronto to take up a PhD position next year - I am really looking forward to that!

If you've ever had a class or year reunion, what stories and anecdotes would you like to share?
I have fond memories of the course trips. They were really great and a lot of fun. And what was also part of it back then was that we went to the hiking parking lot together after our math A-levels and celebrated there.

What are you grateful for?
At the Schloss-Schule: individual teachers who really inspired me. They were always there to support me and helped me realize my full development potential. I always felt very safe there.

I am also grateful to my project team from the Master's program and my friends and companions. I could never have done it all on my own. In the scientific field, there is a nice saying "standing on the shoulders of giants", which I often think of.

And above all, I am extremely grateful to my family, who always believed in me and always supported me! Through social security, I have always felt that I believe in myself and that creates enormous confidence! I would love to pass on this experience myself!

Looking back on your time at school, what would you do differently today?
With hindsight, I would put less pressure on myself. I often put so much stress on myself and placed expectations on myself that nobody else had. This pressure is not necessary in many places. Building and maintaining social connections, establishing routines and simply having fun is something I would push more today! Letting go more often and not taking the school years too "hard" and focusing on what can come afterwards. I would try to do that differently today.

Would you like to support the school and the current students?
If so, what could you imagine doing?
I am very happy to give lectures and talks, both thematically in the field of environmental sciences, but I am also happy to share my personal experiences. For example, the approach to studying abroad or anything else that is of interest. I would love to hear from students!

What else would you like to share?
Finally, two contrasting topics are important to me:

One - bullying happens at school and also later in life. Those who experience it have to deal with it for a very long time and it can be really stressful. However, if you have such an experience, it is important not only to see the negative, but also to draw strength from the experience in order to bring about change. In my view, the important thing is not to dwell on things, but to focus on the positive aspects, what you can make of such a situation and what you can learn from it for the future!

On the other hand, I would like to encourage all students to see school as a place where you can experience and learn so many different things. You can observe yourself there and see what really interests me and which topics come back to me and give me strength and energy! Where do I forget the time and what comes easily to me, what interests me and gives me real pleasure? And also to have the courage to change direction if it doesn't work out. These are the best prerequisites for finding the path you want to take later in your career!