Lydia Pelzer wanted to learn German because of her ancestry, interest in the language, and desire for a challenge. She set goals to speak German for a set time, communicate with relatives, and prove she could learn independently. While she succeeded in learning words and pronunciation, she lost interest over time due to a lack of practice with others, not asking for help when stuck, and not making realistic goals. The experience taught her to get assistance when needed, properly research commitments, and set attainable objectives.