Since nursery school , I have been friends with a classmate who has Down syndrome. That's why I initially thought that an apprenticeship as a care worker would suit me. I generally get on well with people. I did work experience placements in a company that works with children and another that works with people with disabilities, and I realised that I could imagine spending time with both groups from time to time – but not five days a week. I don't have the nerves for that.
So when it came to choosing a career, I was back to square one. I had long since realised in craft lessons that manual work was not my thing and that I wasn't interested enough in it. I tried out forestry work during a work experience placement, but that wasn't for me either.
An exciting combination: I have contact with customers, am trained as a salesperson and learn a lot about fish, rodents and reptiles.
As I have a dog, a cat and an aquarium with fish, I have been a customer of pet shops for years. This gave me the idea that the apprenticeship as a retail specialist in the pet shop sector EFZ could be an exciting combination for me. It combines many things: I have customer contact, am trained as a salesperson and learn a lot about fish, rodents and reptiles.
Visiting two locations gave me the confidence that I had found the right place. Looking after the animals every day and talking to customers at the same time is a dream come true for me. I get to meet all sorts of people and can put my outgoing nature to good use in sales – albeit in a different way than I had originally imagined.
