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Upon returning from exile Vlado Geršak had to adapt
to new situations and challenges.
He chose a carieer in metalwork. His company, Železarna Štore,
granted its workers vocational education.
While participating in the competions on national level,
Vlado Geršak received the highest accolades in his field.
My name is Simona Topolovec. I am curious about the things
you occupied yourself with in your life.
Well, after primary school I spent a couple of years at home.
One day my father took me to Celje.
We went to visit my uncle who had a bakery.
His neighbour was the leader of Emo Celje's brass band
and a multitalented musician. I wanted him to teach me
to play the accordion.
Coincidentally, around that time an old friend of mine,
with whom I once shared an apartment
and who worked as a foreman at Veselj,
advised me not to go back home and get a job in Celje.
I was eager to learn
and so I attended every possible course.
All the while I continued to play the accordion
and even attended a musical school.
I got a job at Emo Celje and breezed through
all the courses on metalwork.
Around that time I started to amuse myself with painting;
on an amateur level, of course.
But when I got a new job at Železarna Štore,
it became something more.
The company had an inner club that included an art section.
Our mentors were painters with bachelor degrees
so we learnt a lot about painting.
I did not forget about music and played in various bands.
The company offered me a chance to further my vocational education
at the Institutes for welding in Ljubljana and Maribor.
Thus I specialised in welding technology
and became quite successfull.
Back then there were these competions in metalworking;
older people might still remember them.
I have to say I achieved quite a lot in my field.
Mostly I ranked first or second which was the requirement,
if you wanted to reach the next stage of competion,
First there were the regionals, then the national competion
and finally, federal.
I have very fond memories of my professional life.