Åsane Folk High School in Bergen

My year at Åsane folk high school gave me so much, both academically and personally. I received a good introduction to the subject and valuable experience, which helped me develop my skills and ultimately get into my dream study program. The school day was eventful and varied, and I got to try many different projects. At the same time, it was a social year that made me more confident and open. I made friends for life and became part of a strong community that has meant a lot to me since.

My year at Åsane folkehøgskole was filled with long and meaningful conversations with close friends, educational classes, beautiful nature experiences, and, not least, memorable trips. On the Architecture and Design course, I was given exciting challenges and a solid foundation to begin further architectural studies. I wouldn’t have gotten into my dream program (Bergen School of Architecture) if it hadn’t been for the excellent help I received in Architecture and Design. My year at Åsane folkehøgskole has taught me a lot about friendship, adulthood, and the importance of playfulness in everyday life, which I will carry with me throughout my life.

Getting the opportunity to study this program has been absolutely fantastic. I had some background from before and I’m a huge fan of animation. Seeing what happens behind the scenes of animations is extremely fascinating. Being able to work with this for a year and gain insight into different types of animation has been a highlight of my life so far. I’ve learned something in all styles and I now know the basics. I wish to continue working with animation. For me, it has always been a dream to travel to Japan – and that dream came true! It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had!

I’ve learned a lot about animation and how to work on projects and processes. How you can reach a finished result by working step by step. I think 2D animation is fun and I’m going to continue with this. Stop Motion and 3D animation were nice to try out. A good subject teacher and a very calm atmosphere in the classroom – there’s no stress here.

My year in Musical and Performance at Åsane Folk High School was truly one of my best! When I received the call from the principal that they had chosen me as a scholarship student for the program, I quickly seized the opportunity. And I don’t regret it for a second. This year, I’ve truly learned to let loose. We put on many different projects, everything from several musicals to monologues, concerts, and we participated in many workshops in performing arts. My class staged the musical Grease, and I got to play Danny Zuko. This was very scary at first, as I didn’t quite believe I was good enough, but program teacher Karina was incredibly good at pushing me just enough so that I dared to take the final step into the role myself. I quickly learned that you only look silly on stage if you’re not having fun on stage. Even though this was just one year, it feels like I’m left with a lot of experience that I can take with me further in the theater/musical field, but also in everyday life. You develop so much during this year, so I like to say that a year at a folk high school is like 5 years in ‘real life’.

The study trip with the class was absolutely fantastic! The people in Mexico were so warm, social, and welcoming. You almost feel like you’re family with them. We got to experience many exciting activities, and my favorite was going rafting in the Lacandon jungle. Seeing and hearing all the birds and jungle plants while we rafted down the river and jumped over waterfalls was truly magical!

We’re really enjoying our time in the Latin America program! The atmosphere is relaxed, without any pressure or stress. We have a fantastic teacher we share lots of laughs with, and it’s great to be in a class with others who are interested in Latin America. A strong love of travel and curiosity about different cultures have brought us together.

Meeting indigenous peoples was one of the coolest parts of the journey. The pyramids and
the history behind it all is incredibly interesting. Temazcal – sweat lodge was a ceremony where we were “reborn”. A cool experience and very different from anything I’ve done before.

In the Latin America program, we learn a lot about Latin America in general, both its history and culture. It’s especially exciting to learn about lesser-known information that you typically don’t hear about in the news. One of the things I like best is learning to dance salsa and making Latin American food together in the school kitchen. The study trip is, of course, a major highlight, and we students get to decide a good deal of what we’ll do on the trip. The high level of student involvement is a big plus.

Taking Musical and Performance is the best choice I’ve made! It’s a program that has given me challenges, community, and experiences for life.

Even though I didn’t have much experience before, I’ve developed both individually and as part of a larger collaboration. The program hours are filled with everything from singing, dancing, theater, conversations, work, and fun. If we don’t have program hours, it’s because we’re on tour showing our projects. There’s never a boring day!

Through Musical, I get a break from reality where I can put on a costume and become a completely different character. And in collaboration with my classmates, it’s never been scary to make a fool of myself or step out of my comfort zone.

Musical and Performance has given me tons of experience and personal development! It’s a safe space to explore your own abilities and collaboration with others! Highly recommended!