My background / the search for meaning
My full name is Poosch Gilbert, and I was born in Salzburg. Even back then I was always “Gilli” – and that’s how it has stayed to this day. Several moves by my parents later, I ended up in Ried im Innkreis.
After two glorious years at the BORG (upper secondary school), in 2005 I started an apprenticeship as an IT technician. Back then I was still a committed computer geek – my definition of exercise was using the keyboard and mouse. Over the years, however, my horizons were to broaden dramatically. When I finished my apprenticeship in 2009 and civilian service was just around the corner, I already knew for sure that I would not grow old in this job. I didn’t know what it was, but something was missing. But never mind – first 9 months of civilian service, then I’d see. At the same time, I discovered the beauty of the mountains. Back then I regularly climbed the mountains in the “nearby” area with friends at weekends. At some point we started enjoying running back down the mountain afterwards – a great feeling, but very bad for the knees! By this point, sport had already become an essential part of my life. Mountain hiking, running and the gym …
For my civilian service I chose the Lebenshilfe workshop in Ried/Innkreis. There, for the first time, I experienced that my work could also be useful, meaningful and human. I felt that I had taken a step in the right direction. So straight after my 9 months of civilian service I decided to train as a specialist social care worker. After completing my training, I worked briefly as a carer in a private household, and shortly afterwards I was able to return to work at the Lebenshilfe workshop.
Qualifications
- State-certified sport climbing instructor