Student leader's speech

I am delighted to welcome a year packed full of extraordinary events and celebrations! We are celebrating 50 years, and each one of you is helping to make history!

To all of you, I would like to say that in all celebrations of the Norwegian Academy of Music and each other, I hope you celebrate yourselves first. Take your place in your own education; all this is actually for you as students, and I hope you have a lot of fun, both in the practice room and hopefully with many new friends.

Last week, those new students at NMH went through a week packed with music, information, social activities, and many new friends. There's a lot of information and much to take forward, tips and tricks that will accompany you throughout your studies. I must admit that I don't remember much after my orientation week; I was going to study, but during my first year here at NMH, and actually throughout my entire studies, I've been grateful that everything was illuminated so early on because, in many ways, I had no idea what lay ahead for me.

Two extremely wonderful years, many good friends, and a program that suited me well, but I didn't really know who I was. Like many of you, I started at the Norwegian Academy of Music as a teenager, right out of high school. It simply turned out that I had a foolproof plan for my studies - a 4-year bachelor's degree at NMH – but no plan for transitioning from a teenager to an adult.

Every year, I started my studies at NMH as someone different from the year before; every month, I changed as a person, while the study program remained unchanged; I changed all the time. What else can you expect as a teenager when the frontal lobe isn't fully developed yet?

You've leapt to a new phase of life, whether you're coming straight from high school, starting a master's or a year program, perhaps you're on your second or third master's degree, a fully trained engineer wanting to give music a chance. Regardless of your history, this change is a BIG DEAL!

My advice to you is to take ownership of your education. It's yours; NMH is your vessel to be used as you wish! I've strongly felt that taking ownership of my studies at NMH has been extremely important. I've had a new teacher every year, changes I have yet to prepare for, changes that have altered my studies without me having control over it. And you can't know what's around the next corner, so it's been essential for me to take ownership of what my studies entail – to essentially create my own education within NMH, utilizing all available resources. I genuinely hope you find joy in creating, even outside of your Principal instrument lessons, and see NMH as a gift because it truly is, and I hope you take your place in your studies at NMH.

During the orientation week, I've gotten to know new bachelor's and master's students, and I want to say that I am deeply grateful to have gotten to know many of you. You seem like genuine, kind, and engaged individuals. And I look forward to the next year and seeing the rest of you. You're going to do great here! I genuinely have great faith in the upcoming year!

I've thought a lot about what I should say, what I wish I had heard, and what I think would be helpful for you. It's been challenging to find golden nuggets, but eventually, I thought of something:

I remember well what Ståle, the communication director here, said after a concert once. "Yes, it's difficult to get into NMH, but it's even harder to get out." And there's something to that; suddenly, the whole world is within these two buildings. Friends and colleagues become synonymous with the auditorium, lectures, study rooms, social gatherings, and even days where every meal happens in the same place. It isn't easy to get out. My hobbies fell by the wayside in my first year here; I focused on my studies, on playing the viola, which was incredibly enjoyable and what I wanted to do, and on EXMUS – how to form lasting chamber groups – and everything that comes with the classical performance program I'm in. But I burned out quickly; suddenly, I had no time to exercise, paint, and dance. There was no place to go for a walk; I would go to a café after a tough day, a nasty practice session, or a bad lesson. I stopped doing anything that wasn't related to the viola and music.

And I know it's incredibly awkward and cliché to give new students the advice: "Take care of yourselves," to pull out Maslow's hierarchy of needs and tell you how not to be a student. So, I'll avoid that. I want to advise you: "Get out" and take breaks from your workplace, which often becomes NMH. You're primarily human beings and then music students. A small reference to "A Doll's House."

At NMH, you turn your hobby into a career and want to engage in what brings you joy. For me, it became not only a career but my entire life.

You'll make many really good friends here at NMH, hopefully, friends that will last, and I wish that for all of you. Take these friends and do something other than studying occasionally – you deserve it!"

NOW, To all international students, I´ve probably bored you with all the babbling in Norwegian.

Welcome to Norway! You probably have many reasons for moving here, but whatever the reason - moving to a new country can be scary, and I hope you think it's exciting, too.

Today, the society is making it hard to make friends abroad. The new tuition fee for students outside the EU and EØS that was introduced last year has been rough for everyone. All universities and education programs lose out by preventing international contact. But for us, not only as an educational institution but also as a cultural institution, we lose many routes to other cultural treasures and opportunities to exchange knowledge and music. And that is how the music world can develop.

I asked Paul - an international master-student 2. year, what international students could benefit from hearing on the first day at NMH. He said, “take a small step out of your comfort zone, and Norway will reward you!”. So, I would like to encourage you this year to take a small step outside of your comfort zone. There are education and social opportunities to make friends and meet new people.

The Society is making it really hard to make friends abroad, and we cannot accept it. It is super difficult to be international, no matter where you are. either If you are on the exchange or are starting your bachelor or master. You have moved to a new country and city, and I hope your Norwegian classmates welcome you and help you out with the new language and our infamous social codes. they can seem scary, but I promise you that Norwegians are nice people once you get to know them.

Dear all students! I've been babbling about a lot of things. It's two things I want you to remember.

1. You are at NMH; there are a lot of possibilities here. Take ownership of your own studies and use the resources you find!
2. Take a small step outside of your comfort zone, and be open to meeting new people.

I've been talking too long. I hope you have an amazing year at NMH and celebrate the jubilee together with celebrating yourselves!