Ready for Life After School: Guidance on Housing, Finances, and More

WJB gGmbH calls its program for schools “Your Crash Course in Life.” On a December morning, housing, finances, health insurance, and taxes were the dominant topics at Steinmühle—at least for the 13th-grade class. “After all, in a few months, these young people should leave Steinmühle not only with their heads full of school knowledge, but also well-informed about the most important aspects of everyday life,” explained Constanze Oestreicher-Gold, head of the upper school.

For each of the four topic areas, the organizer had invited a local representative to serve as a speaker. A written handout was provided for each topic, questions were welcomed, and case studies were discussed. In workshops on each topic, specific situations were discussed: renting housing and what to keep in mind, income, managing a bank account, family health insurance, pay stubs, and much more.

 

Education Beyond School Subjects

This gave our 95 soon-to-be high school graduates the chance to let their minds wander to other realms, beyond English, German, or math. It allowed them to get a sense of the challenges they will face when they leave Steinmühle this summer.

Did “Future Day” actually help the students navigate topics such as housing, finances, health insurance, and taxes? The 95 students were given the opportunity to answer this question on a feedback form at the end of the event. The evaluations—which could also include suggestions for improvement—were collected by Future Day director Timo Skrobanek at the end of the conference. The next cohort is likely already in the starting blocks, ready to explore these topics that go beyond the classroom curriculum but are relevant to real life.