Moritz Oberwinter is a former student of the Phorms Taunus Campus and graduated in 2022. He is now studying medicine at the private European University Cyprus in Frankfurt. The 21-year-old told us what he remembers most about his time at school - and how his years at Phorms shaped him.
You weren't a student at Phorms Frankfurt from the start, right?
I first went to another school and switched to Phorms in the second half of Year 9. This was triggered by the fact that I spent six months at a boarding school in England. After that, I wanted to improve my English further. That's why I deliberately looked for a bilingual school.
Do you remember your first day at school with us?
Not in detail, but I felt welcome at Phorms right from the start - I already had a good feeling at the information meeting. I have never regretted the change. My time at Phorms was great! Before that, I didn’t enjoy going to school as much.
What did you particularly like about Phorms?
My class at the time was very small, there were six of us. As a result, we all knew each other well and the team spirit in the class was great. I'm still in contact with my former classmates today. The small class size also meant that the teaching staff were able to give each student very individual attention.
When you think back to your time at school - is there a moment you will never forget?
The student exchange to Philadelphia in year 10 was definitely a highlight. But there are also many other experiences that I remember fondly. For example, we once went to Frankfurt during art class and had lessons in a museum.
Was the bilingual immersion concept the right thing for you back then?
The immersion principle made learning much more intensive and formative. At the beginning, it wasn't easy to get to the same level as children who had been at Phorms since kindergarten. But I received a lot of support from the school and from my classmates.
How did you find the international teaching staff?
Most of the teachers were great. They really tried to spark our interest in their subjects and make the lessons as varied as possible. We also did a lot of practical work, especially in the science subjects. That helps me a lot in my studies today.
Speaking of studying. You're studying medicine - what do you want to do with it later in your career?
I want to become an emergency doctor and work in the ambulance service. After graduating from high school, I did a voluntary social year and trained as a paramedic. I currently work part-time in the emergency services alongside my studies.
That's impressive. What do you dare to do today - also thanks to Phorms - that you didn't dare to do before?
In the past, I would have found it difficult to give a presentation in front of a large group. Today I can do it without any problems. It makes me realise how important my earlier experiences with presentations and discussions at school were.
You recently gave a presentation at your old Phorms school - how did it come about and what was it about?
Together with my professor, I co-authored a scientific paper on treatment options for strokes. I presented the paper to the sixth form. It was nice to be back at my old school and see how the campus has developed. My years at Phorms were great, and I really miss that time.
Thank you for the interview, Moritz!
