Whereas Erika Roberts was a highschool scholar rising up within the suburbs of Philadelphia, she participated in a two-week trade program that took her to Munich, Germany. She did not comprehend it on the time, however that have would form the remainder of her life.
Quick ahead to 2016, when Roberts was a freshman in school, learning biochemistry with a pre-med focus in Massachusetts. At the same time as she labored in direction of incomes her Bachelor’s diploma and attending medical college, she was feeling unfulfilled.
“I used to be a younger grownup who wished to expertise the world and all that got here with it,” she tells CNBC Make It. “All of the locations I toured in highschool promised range, group and private development however the actuality felt totally different. I made a decision I wanted to hunt out my very own challenges if I wished to really expertise this. I simply did not really feel like I used to be working in direction of a future that I used to be enthusiastic about.”
Roberts moved to Germany to attend medical college.
Erika Roberts
On the identical time, Roberts began to consider what life would actually be like if she transferred to a special college, particularly one again in Germany.
Not like america, in Germany, you do not want a Bachelor’s diploma to attend medical college. As an alternative, college students enroll in a six-year program that’s divided into three levels, with exams administered after each.
Most public universities in Germany are both free or provide decrease prices in comparison with these in different nations.
All of those elements continued to affect Roberts’ pondering. She thought-about this transfer to be her best choice as a result of she might change into a dermatologist with out extra prolonged education.
Roberts began to select up the German language once more after briefly taking lessons in highschool.
“I got down to problem myself and to fulfill folks from everywhere in the world. That is positively not one thing that you just essentially get within the States except you are in a serious metropolis,” she says. “I really feel like Europe does a greater job of treating younger adults in a method that offers you the duty so that you’re uncovered at a youthful age, and what to do versus within the States it is extra ready till you are 21 after which impulsively all hell breaks free.”
Roberts tried to debate attending medical college in Germany together with her dad, however he dismissed the concept. He wished her to complete her training in america. However when Roberts ended her freshman yr with a 3.9 GPA, her dad modified his thoughts and gave her the inexperienced gentle to proceed her research in Germany.
“My dad was like, ‘Okay, if that is what you assume is de facto the proper path. You gave the everyday route a attempt to if it nonetheless looks like you have to go and determine that out, then certain you possibly can strive it out’,” she says.
Roberts lived on this condo with two roommates for 5 years.
Erika Roberts
Roberts accomplished her freshman yr of school in 2017 and registered at a language college the place she additionally deliberate to stay whereas getting settled in Germany.
Only a few weeks after registering, Roberts received on a airplane and headed to Germany. She lived in a dorm on the language college for lower than a yr earlier than shifting in together with her boyfriend on the time’s household. That dwelling association ended when the 2 broke up. She moved right into a shared condo with two different folks the place she lived for a few yr.
Ultimately, Roberts landed in an condo with roommates and lived there for 5 years. When she first moved in, she paid 565 euros or $648 a month. By the point she moved out, her lease was 659 euros a month or $751.
Right now, Roberts lives on her personal however is not comfy disclosing what she pays in lease. As an alternative, she shared that her complete bills exterior of lease are 749 euros or $859 a month.
In keeping with paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It, these month-to-month bills embody 230 euros for groceries, 144 euros for medical health insurance, 24 euros for a fitness center membership, 28 euros for her cellphone invoice and 38 euros for transportation. She additionally pays 85 euros for medical college tuition and sometimes spends 200 euros going out to eat or hanging with buddies.
“Taxpayers make it potential to maintain the charges of public universities so low, so I will have the possibility to correctly pay again my share as soon as I’m working right here,” Roberts says.
Roberts is learning to be a dermatologist.
Erika Roberts
Roberts has seen that since dwelling in Germany, she constructions her days in another way, has more healthy consuming habits, and overthinks issues loads much less.
“I feel coming from my Philadelphia expertise of eager to be actually individualistic and seeing how folks exist right here in that universe of not making an attempt to try this has been balancing me out,” she says.
“[It’s] making me confront who I genuinely am exterior of what the world round me is telling me I am purported to be.”
Roberts has been in Germany for nearly eight years now, she says she loves the sense of security, entry to good meals and accessibility. Being there has additionally pressured her to discover ways to adapt.
“Recognizing the atmosphere that you just’re in and the foundations that dictate that atmosphere is de facto important for understanding methods to succeed,” she says.
“What I’ve positively seen is how slowly through the years, I’ve tailored the German tradition extra. I’ve grown up right here in so some ways. I’ve grown into the person who I’m now.”
Roberts says she does not see herself shifting again to the U.S. completely anytime quickly.
Erika Roberts
Roberts’ household is usually all in U.S., so shifting again there’ll at all times be a chance, she says. However for now, she will be able to see herself in Europe for a very long time to return.
“I’d not have thought 10 years in the past that I’d be dwelling in Germany for so long as I’ve and the way every part’s turned out the way in which it has. I would not have been capable of predict the place I’m now 10 years in the past,” she says.
“I do not attempt to strictly predict the place I will be 10 years from immediately however proper now I really feel actually joyful over right here and I might see myself staying right here.”
Conversions from euros to USD had been achieved utilizing the OANDA conversion charge of 1 euro to 1.14 USD on April 23, 2025. All quantities are rounded to the closest greenback.
Need a new profession that is higher-paying, extra versatile or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new on-line course The way to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Professional instructors will train you methods to community efficiently, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream profession. Begin immediately and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory low cost of 30% off $67 (+taxes and costs) via Could 13, 2025.
Plus, join CNBC Make It is e-newsletter to get suggestions and methods for fulfillment at work, with cash and in life.
