The courage to make a new start: how Alicia found her place in Witten
A move to NRW, a new academic path at UW/H and the fulfilment of a dream: Alicia Kannenberg explains how a culture shock turned into a real bond - and why Witten is more than just a place to study for her.
For Alicia Kannenberg, one thing was clear: after her higher education entrance qualification, she wanted to leave her hometown of Hamburg and "definitely go somewhere else." Preferably to NRW, the German federal state that appealed to her most in terms of the mentality of the people. The proximity to the Netherlands and a feasible journey time back home also spoke in her favour. As Alicia's first application to study dentistry at Witten/Herdecke University was unsuccessful, she initially went to Münster for a few semesters to study pharmacy.
She quickly realised that the course did not suit her. She had dreamed of becoming a dentist since she was 16. A conversation with a medical student from Witten sparked the idea of trying again at the UW/H. But at first she was too worried about being rejected again. Friends finally encouraged her to take the step. With success. "I can't tell you how happy I was. Thanks to the Income Share Agreement (ISA), I can also afford to study financially."
From a little culture shock to new favourite places
After she received her acceptance letter from UW/H, she mourned Münster a little, but was also looking forward to arriving in Witten. She had already seen the city for the first time during her admission interviews in 2022 and that was "a bit of a culture shock", especially when you come from a big city like she did. "You don't realise that some things are not so obvious. It was clear to me that there had to be an S-Bahn and a U-Bahn. I didn't realise that this wasn't the case in many cities. But I think the university is so great that I said I would definitely do it. Because what's on offer here and the campus as a whole are simply worth it. For example, I like the fact that the university is in one place and not spread across the city; it just makes it closer and more personal."
Alicia has set up a shared flat with a medical student and a fellow dentistry student from her semester, right in the city centre. The three of them found each other via WG-Gesucht. "Of course, it makes it easier when there's another person there who's going through the same thing as you and who you can talk to about everything. And we have everything we need around us. In Münster, you couldn't easily get something in the city centre." On their first day at university, the two dentistry students made friends with another fellow student. They now support each other as a group of three. As there are only 48 students in a year group and they spend so much time together, it is not difficult to socialise. The joint freshers' trip also played its part.
Alicia also gets to know new people "outside her own bubble" through programmes such as the free university sports and the Studium fundamentale courses. This semester, she is taking the colloquium Feldversuch, in which students are looking at sustainable, healthy and regional nutrition. They reflect on their own nutritional behaviour and experience the basics of sustainable agriculture in a very practical way on the field adjacent to the UW/H. "I think it's great that the university sees sustainability as something so important. It's simply a big institution with a lot of influence and I think it's good that it takes this responsibility seriously," says the 25-year-old.
Looking beyond your own nose
Her favourite places in Witten include Luther Park and the café in the Alte Feuerwache. She is impressed by how much the students shape the city through their commitment and work in initiatives. Alicia also appreciates the connections to other cities: She has various options for travelling to her boyfriend in Münster by train, for example. She also loves the fact that NRW has so many cities in such a small area: "I've often used this to go on trips. It's really easy with the Deutschlandticket."
Alicia often notices the differences to her home country on a small scale. "In Hamburg, for example, we call libraries 'Bücherhallen' because it's an institution. I didn't realise that it's not a real word, but just a name. It makes you more attentive and opens your horizons. I think that's also a big advantage when you move to another German federal state. You realise how much bigger the world actually is. I find that very enriching." Her conclusion: "I haven't regretted moving away for a single day. I still love Hamburg and would move there again. But I don't have to. I could also imagine staying in NRW."
