A successful graduate
Badre Boulahdit, Germany
Badre Boulahdit is one of the best graduates in his field in Thuringia after completing his apprenticeship as a production mechanic. This achievement is particularly impressive, because the Moroccan-born graduate has only been living in Germany since 2016. Now the 32-year-old is permanently employed as a mechanic, and he tells us how he managed to combine family and education – and to memorize German technical terms for textile technology.
Congratulations on your very successful graduation. We are of course interested to know, what is the secret of your success?
Thank you very much. I think it is my family and colleagues. Before the exams, my sister looked after my children so that I could study in peace. My wife quizzed me with index cards. It was the only way I could remember everything. My boss Michael Dübler and my instructor Franz Bley took time to explain everything to me and helped me a lot, both with my training and with learning German.
How did you learn the German language?
When I moved from Dubai, where I worked for a security company, to join my wife in Germany, I barely knew the language. Then I did a German course and at the same time I worked as a temp in the restaurant and beer garden of the Bio-Seehotel and got my driving license. So my German got better and better. I really wanted to start my training at Bauerfeind in 2018 because I knew that this would give me a better chance.
What was your experience of this time?
It was hard at the beginning: the grammar, the many textile terms, the new environment. But I like machines and manual skills, I used to enjoy repairing all kinds of things back home in Morocco. That's why my second training as a mechanic was just right for me. I have settled in here and I am happy to stay.
What are your next goals?
Together with my wife, I am currently expanding our house. And I want to keep improving my German so that I can eventually do further training to become an industrial foreman.
You are very ambitious – what drives you?
I want my children to be proud of me. When they are older, they will see that their father has learned a good profession.
About Badre Boulahdit
Badre Boulahdit grew up near the megacity of Fes in north-eastern Morocco. The 32-year-old began his apprenticeship as a machine and plant operator at Bauerfeind in 2018 and then completed a second apprenticeship as a production mechanic specializing in textile technology. He lives with his wife and children Yasmin (3 years) and Elyas (1 year) in Zeulenroda.