Mr Scholand, first of all, congratulations on recently passing your Abitur. Are you happy with the result?
Yes, very happy. The written and oral exams went well and with the grades I achieved, I can study my favourite subject, medicine. 

When do you want to start?
In autumn 2025, but before that I’m doing an FSJ, a voluntary social year, to get a taste of new areas between school and university. 

The GDNÄ student programme, which you are taking part in September, is also about new experiences. How did you get involved in the programme?
My biology teacher, Mr Mühlenhoff, approached me in the spring and gave me a programme flyer. I immediately discovered a few lectures in the programme that I was particularly interested in. For example, on the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, the design of biology with light or living materials in the field of physics. 

What does participating in the student programme mean to you?
Very much. I see the invitation as an honour and appreciation of my academic achievements and I am full of anticipation when I think about the days in Potsdam. It’s all about current research, which we will hopefully be able to grasp well with the basics that school has given us. 

What wishes and expectations do you have as a student scholarship holder?
I want to learn as much as possible and will attend lectures from all subject areas. It is important for me to have direct contact with the scientists, for example at the study counselling, in the Science & Technology Cafés or during the breaks. I’ve never had an opportunity like this before and I’m looking forward to it. 

You have just completed twelve years at secondary school. What was the most important thing for you during this time?
We learned to acquire knowledge, to organise ourselves and to persevere when things didn’t go so smoothly. My friends were very important to me: we prepared for exams together and motivated each other. 

Did that also work during the pandemic?
It definitely did. At first, we did a lot over the phone, but later we met up in small groups to study together. Not only did we survive the pandemic, we also learnt to discipline ourselves and keep going.

© Timo Voss, Studio of Thoughts | Helmholtz-Gymnasium Bielefeld

Bielefeld’s Helmholtz High School, shown here in an aerial photo, was founded in 1896. Under the motto “A modern high school with tradition”, around 100 teachers now teach around 1000 students.

With your grades, you can choose the subject you want to study. Why did you choose medicine?
It was an obvious choice for me because my father and mother are doctors, and biology was one of my favourite subjects at school. What I like is the wide range of careers I have with a medical degree: I can practise as a doctor or go into research, maybe even into business. It’s good that I still have a few years to make my decision. 

Medicine, information, natural sciences, technology: it is often said that interest in STEM subjects is waning among young people. Can you confirm this?
It’s different in my environment – science subjects were particularly popular at school. Many opted for advanced courses in maths, physics and computer science. The decisive factor is personal preference: People who enjoy computer games are often also interested in computer science. 

How would you describe your generation’s attitude to life?
My generation is very free, it has many options and wants to have fun in life. My friends and I are aware of the problems in the world, we have the climate crisis and the wars on our radar, but that doesn’t paralyse us. Some of us are involved in politics to have more influence on the future course. But most of us have enough to do with ourselves and our future plans after leaving school. 

You are young, the GDNÄ is a good 200 years old. Can that go together?
They go together very well. When I look at the GDNÄ website, I see great scientists such as Alexander von Humboldt, Albert Einstein and Max Planck on the homepage. I see this as an incentive for me and my generation. Perhaps we too can change the world with new, revolutionary ideas.