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My time at school didn't exactly go according to plan. After completing my nine years of compulsory education, I wanted to attend a business school for another three years. The options I was considering afterwards were becoming a cook or a waiter (and I'm honestly glad neither worked out).

The school was extremely Catholic and quite strict. If you didn't follow the rules, you could get into trouble quickly. And I wasn't exactly behaving like a model student at that age, so after repeated incidents I ended up getting kicked out during the first year.

Then came the question of what to do next. I applied all over the place and tried temporary jobs in different fields: Cooking, waiting tables, retail, carpentry and metalworking. I quickly decided that cooking wasn't for me. The other jobs were okay, but I still didn't know what I really wanted.

I also liked the idea of becoming a fitness trainer someday, although that was something I wanted to pursue alongside another job rather than immediately.

The First Job Offer

Eventually a company that manufactures precision mechanical parts called me. I'd already done some temporary work there using turning and milling machines, and it was actually the job I'd enjoyed most. I accepted immediately. To be fair, I probably would have accepted almost anything at that point, just to get started. A few days later two other companies also offered me jobs, but by then I'd already made my decision.

So here I am, doing an apprenticeship in the metal industry. For the past year I've been learning conventional turning and milling, and later I'll get into NC and CNC machines. I've always been interested in technical things, so I feel pretty comfortable with the work. It's definitely something I want to keep learning about.

As for fitness and nutrition, I'm not dropping those interests either. Once I've finished the apprenticeship, I'd still like to do something in that area on the side.

Clear Goals, Clear Steps: This Is What Comes Next

Looking back, I went to a school I wasn't particularly interested in, got kicked out and more or less took the first proper job that came along. I was lucky. But I don't want the rest of my life to depend on luck and coincidences alone.

I've noticed that making lists and sticking to routines helps me quite a lot. I like knowing what I'm working towards and what I need to do next.

Some of my goals probably sound pretty ordinary, maybe even a bit cheesy: Finish the apprenticeship, buy or build a house, get married, have children and still have time for the things I enjoy. But those are the things I want, and I'd rather start working towards them than just hope they'll somehow happen.