This summer, I spent 3 weeks at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, taking part in a course titled Motivation and Self-Leadership in Modern Work Life. The course involved fascinating interactive classes and discussions with people from all around the world. One of the most enriching aspects was learning about work culture in Oslo and how it differs from the UK and the many other countries represented by my classmates. From learning about modern work life and theories on motivation and leadership to exploring the fjord islands, national art museums and immersing myself in Nordic culture, I gained a whole new perspective on how to deal with procrastination and motivation myself, not just as a student, but throughout my future career and life.
Before Arriving
When I was first told about the Norwegian summer school, I knew instantly that I wanted to apply. I love travelling and I was very interested in Scandinavian culture, so the idea of exploring a new city in a country I had never been before while studying a course that would help me achieve my future career goals was incredibly exciting! I knew that the course on motivation and self leadership would definitely be beneficial when it comes to finding employment, and it aligned closely with my degree in Sociology. Although I was nervous about travelling alone to a new country, I was even more excited to embark on my first solo trip, experience modern working life in Oslo and, ultimately, meet new people.
When I first arrived in Oslo, it felt very overwhelming, but I knew it was going to be an amazing experience. Everything was in a different language and I had to learn a new public transport system while not being able to read any of the signs, however as the main reason why I was in Oslo was to learn, I quickly figured out how things worked. On my first day exploring the city, the very first place I visited was the Opera House. Walking to the top of the roof and seeing the city spread out before me made me even more excited to continue exploring Oslo. I also enjoyed visiting the House of Parliament and learning about Norway's political system in comparison to the UK's. As many of my modules focus on politics and policy, it was particularly rewarding to gain a deeper understanding of another country's approach to governance.
Studying In Oslo
When I first arrived at BI Norwegian Business School, I was amazed at how modern and elegant the university looked. The building itself was very different from the universities in the UK. Everything on campus; the library, the gym, lecture halls, offices and even the glass elevators (which I found to be particularly cool) all made the campus feel as if I had stepped into the future.
On the first day, we attended a welcome event filled with enthusiastic students from all around the world. One of my favourite parts of the course was getting to hear everyone's different perspectives and experiences. Throughout the course, we discussed motivation, procrastination, stress and self-leadership, and it encouraged me to think about how these things affect my own life. Although the course focussed on modern work life, I found that a lot of what we learnt could also be applied to being a university student. It made me think more about how I manage my time, what motivates me and why I sometimes procrastinate. I also found it particularly interesting to learn about Norwegian work culture and compare it with the UK and the other countries my classmates came from.
More Than Just Studying
Although studying was the main reason I went to Oslo, some of my favourite memories came from everything I experienced outside of the classroom. I explored the fjord islands, went hiking, visited national museums, saw famous paintings such as ‘The Scream’, and spent time experiencing different parts of Nordic culture.
I also met people from all around the world, many of whom I would never have had the opportunity to meet if I had stayed in the UK. Together, we visited a floating sauna, explored the city together and even watched Norway play in the World Cup. These experiences made the trip feel like much more than just a summer course. And what's even better is that many of these were free and included in the tuition fee for the summer abroad programme.
Making The Opportunity Possible
An experience like this would not have been possible for me without the support of the GSPO Fund. The funding allowed me to take part in the summer school in Norway and experience studying abroad, something I had really wanted to do but may not otherwise have been able to afford. When I first heard of the GSPO fund through the Gold Scholarship Programme, I started looking more in depth at the summer schools, as knowing that I had this support made it possible for me to take the opportunity and challenge myself by travelling somewhere completely new on my own.
What I Took Away From The Experience
The biggest thing I gained from the experience was confidence. Before going, I was nervous about travelling somewhere completely new by myself, but by the end of the three weeks I felt much more comfortable navigating a new city and putting myself into unfamiliar situations.
The course also gave me a different perspective on my future. I am still figuring out exactly what I want to do after university, but learning about motivation and modern work life has made me think more about the type of working environment I would like to be part of. It has also given me strategies that I can use throughout the rest of my degree and eventually in my career.
I would definitely encourage other students to apply for opportunities like this as it ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences I have had at university. I got to study something completely different, experience a new culture, make friends from around the world and challenge myself by travelling alone. Most importantly, I came home with a much better idea of what I am capable of.
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