My plan for the upcoming future
I'm 19, from South Africa, and financially self-reliant when it comes to my education and future plans, as family support isn't an option for me. After researching several paths, I've decided to pursue a German Ausbildung in welding. I speak Afrikaans, which may help with learning German, and I genuinely like the idea of welding and creating things with my hands. I understand this is a long-term commitment, but I'm fairly confident in my decision.
My goal is to have my education, translated documents, and German language qualifications ready by age 21–22 so I can start applying for Ausbildung positions. I'm aiming for B2 German, although I may obtain B1 first before progressing. I currently self-study for 30–1 hour and 30 minutes daily using resources such as YouTube, Duolingo, Spotify, and Nico's Weg, since paid courses aren't financially realistic for me, but to clarify, I do study all those in one study period daily, that is considering if the day allows it, if not I tend to go through hand written notes and do my 2 Duolingo lessons, and add something small, or a Spotify German account. Once I reach B2, I intend to continue improving towards C1 and beyond.
Education is another important part of my plan. I currently have a GED, but I intend to obtain a South African matric-equivalent qualification to strengthen my applications. From my research, I understand I may need to wait until I'm 21 to pursue this route, after which I plan to register, write my examinations, and obtain the necessary documentation. In the meantime, I'm looking for an entry-level job so I can save for examination fees, language tests, and document translations while continuing to study German.
Ideally, I'll have everything ready by 21 or 22 and can begin applying consistently through German Ausbildung websites. I know the process may be more complicated than expected, and I'm prepared to adjust my timeline if necessary.
I'd appreciate any advice or corrections you can offer based on the plan I've laid out. If there's anything I've misunderstood, overlooked, or could do differently to make my plan more realistic and improve my chances of successfully getting an Ausbildung in Germany, I'd be grateful to hear your thoughts.
Ps. I did use ai to get my thoughts and plan across as I've been told when explaining plans or thoughts it doesn't make sense to others.