“I had to start from scratch”

What made you decide to start vocational training at the age of 40?

I grew up in Brazil as part of a large family. Being the eldest of eight siblings, I had to help my mum out from a young age. We struggled to get by. When I got married in Switzerland later on, I wanted to get a job to ensure that I wasn't just a housewife. But that requires training. The apprenticeship at Migros Basel gave me an opportunity I’d never had before and I seized it with both hands.

Were you anxious about anything before starting your training?

Yes, because I had to start from scratch. German isn’t my mother tongue, and the industry was new to me. I was also afraid that I’d struggle to fit in.

How did you cope being around teenagers all the time?

It was great actually. We really helped each other out. I was like a big sister to the other apprentices and shared my life experience. They were really good at IT and helped me get to grips with the new technologies. That helped enormously, as a lot of work is done on computers throughout the entire programme and traditional textbooks are no longer used.

Would you recommend this kind of training to other people your age?

Yes, absolutely! You can learn at any age. I’m proud to have a profession and feel as though I’ve fulfilled my potential. I’d like to continue training and complete a course lasting several months to become a specialist food manager at my Migros store in Schützenmatt in 2025.