Tell about yourself!

My name is Marianne Leere Oudenstad, I am 19 years old and come from Lørenskog. Previously, I attended KDA at Lørenskog VGS and that's where my interest in art started!

After high school I wanted to do something more with art before my studies and that's why I decided to go to folk high school. I soon noticed that Elverum Folkehøgskule had an art line with many practical things. At Lørenskog VGS I had learned to draw and paint, but here I got the opportunity to do things I have never done in my life.

For example, I have blown glass, made glass beads, wooden jewelry, lino print to name a few. I wanted to explore the physical side of art, where you can make different products. That's really cool! Who doesn't want physical products that remind them of their time here at Elverum Folkehøgskule But relax, you also get the opportunity to draw and paint if you like!

What expectations did you have for FHS?

I had countless expectations for Folkehojskole, and the biggest one was that I expected to get to know myself better. It might sound a bit cliché, but it's true. Here I have really challenged myself, gotten to know myself and not least grown. And it's incredibly cool.

I feel that I am able to face new challenges, people and experiences in a better way now that I know who I am outside of school. I also expected to make friends and experience new things, and I have managed to do that. The days here are both planned and spontaneous, which means that every day can be a little adventure if you want it to be! When you meet people who like the same things as you, it's easy to get to know each other. What's more, you get to meet people from other lines who are not interested in the same things as you, and then you can learn a lot of new and cool things about other things!

What is your best experience so far?

The very best experience at the art line has been making a glass vase! It was so cool to work with glass and create a completely unique product that I can use in my future home. I also think it has been fun to work with ceramics! There are two things I have never done before. In addition, I have very good experiences from when we have been on study trips.

What have you learned?

I have learned a lot about different art forms. I have learned a lot about lino printing, how to work with wood and glass. I love working with art. It is also very nice to be able to talk to other students about the various projects we are working on. You learn an incredible amount from talking to others about what you do and who knows - maybe you'll get some cool tips every now and then too?

What might a normal day at Art/Experiences look like?

It's hard to say what a typical day looks like, as we do a lot of different things. But the days have some similarities. A day in the art gallery often starts with a few messages from Trine-Lise. We get information about the task and the procedure, and then the art breaks out. Some already know what they want to do, while others need some time to think and decide which direction to go. The music is turned on, the chatter starts and the creativity begins! We spend our time making something cool and talking to each other. Of course, it is also important to have a couple of coffee and tea breaks (and some chocolate now and then) when you need it.

Best memory so far?

My best memory so far was in Lofoten! I stood on a beach and looked out over the beautiful nature and the class. Here was a group from all over the world gathered, some running around, others picking shells and stones, but what was the case was that we were all here together.

It dawned on me that I am incredibly lucky to experience this year with all these people that I didn't even know existed a few months ago!

Marianne

What thoughts did you have before you started at Elverum Fhs?

I was very excited before going to EFHS. It was a kind of life change, which made me really happy! Had a lot of thoughts about who I was going to live with, whether I got to know anyone and about what this life at EFHS would be like. If you are someone who gets a little carried away, a bit like me, you must know that it often goes very well! Everything that I thought was a little scary turned out just fine. And the best thing was that it went well all by itself. I really enjoy my roommate (thanks to Emma) and made a lot of new friends. The class environment is great and life at EFHS is exciting, a little planned and spontaneous!

What are your plans after Fhs?

After EFHS, I probably intend to study! Considering studying something with human rights or political science, so who knows, that's something my future self will have to deal with! This year has sort of been my reward to myself for how hard I worked during VGS! I am very grateful that I have prioritized experiencing something new and making some wonderful memories before entering my studies. I feel that it will help when things are a bit heavy during exam periods, for example!