Andrea Reithmaier

As part of the “Alumni.Erzählen.” initiative, Andrea Reithmaier shares insights into her time as a distance-learning student at FERNFH and explains how she applies the knowledge she gained to her professional practice.

I decided to pursue a distance learning program—specifically, the FERNFH—because …
… a distance learning program was the only realistic option for me to complete a second degree without having to put my family, personal life, and career on the back burner too much.

My personal situation during my studies … (work, family, free time, etc.)
… was marked by major changes. Professionally, I increased my hours from part-time to full-time and took over as director of the retirement and nursing home during my final semester. On a personal level, I experienced many ups and downs during my studies—culminating in a fresh start toward the end of my program.

Looking back, the biggest challenge for me during my distance learning program was …
… finding the motivation to submit the required assignments on time, even for courses that didn’t align with my areas of interest. Especially in the second half of the program, which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t always easy to focus on the assignments, particularly since there was a complete lack of face-to-face interaction with my fellow students.

An experience from my time as a student that I fondly remember …
… The best experience—or rather, the most valuable insight—I gained from my studies is that six people with completely different professional backgrounds and very different personalities can, in a very short time, become a close-knit team that not only tackles their studies together but also stands by and supports one another through life’s most diverse challenges.

Here’s how the distance learning program has influenced my career/professional situation …
…For me, the Aging Services Management program is the perfect complement to my business degree. I can now understand many of the processes and procedures in senior living and nursing homes that were previously difficult for me to grasp, and I’m able to assess situations differently in my day-to-day work. 

This is what I benefited from most through my distance learning program:
… The added challenge of balancing my studies with family, work, and leisure activities has made me realize once again how much one can accomplish when one is determined and sets the right priorities—even if it’s sometimes thanks to a little gentle pressure from the outside. 

These skills and abilities are becoming increasingly important in my profession/industry …
… In my opinion, successful completion of a distance learning program requires good time management. Even in professional life, where expectations are rising, good time management is essential for mastering the challenges of everyday life. Just as in everyday professional life, distance learning has also shown that teamwork makes tasks easier to manage and that you don’t have to devote the same level of effort to every task; rather, you achieve better results as a group and also conserve your own resources.

My tips for first-year students and anyone interested in a degree program or course at FERNFH:
… Don’t overthink it—just sign up and give it a try. There’s no “right” time to start a degree program, and in my opinion, there’s no better format—or one more suited to everyday life—than FERNFH’s, with its mix of in-person days and distance learning phases.

I’d just like to add this …
… The six semesters flew by. It was a challenging time that showed what you can achieve with the support of those close to you—and, not least, in addition to the academic knowledge I gained, friendships above all have endured.