My year at folk high school has changed my life!

You don't have to be bored with school to go to folk high school, but that's totally OK too!

The most important qualification for attending folk high school is that you want to do something positive for yourself and build on what you are good at; that you want something with your life!

You certainly have hidden talents, and we look forward to discovering them with you.

A year at folk high school should give you motivation and joy, time to be with many other young people where you can pursue your interests. You should experience mastery in subjects that you are truly interested in, and discover new and exciting subjects as well. 

You can make lifelong friendships with other young people from all over the country - and abroad. One year at folk high school is definitely not wasted. You get so much in return. 

Here you can read what one of our students, Tuva Aasrud, said about her year at Sogndal Folk High School 2015-16, at the last morning assembly on May 14.

Between the hills and the mountains out by the fjord, we have found our home. A new home. A temporary, but safe home.

We looked out into the unknown future, it was scary to embark on. But we dared! And here we have built a life together, we have learned a lot of new things and gotten to know each other. We have adapted, developed and in many ways improved ourselves.

We came here alone, no one had built any framework here for us, we had to make them ourselves, no one had trodden the tracks, but we have made a path. Part of the path we walk our whole lives. Where it ends, we must each time make a new choice about which way the next step will go.
This path goes down and up. For some the path is steeper, longer and more winding than others, but the same applies to everyone: with every step we take we get further. For me the path has been a pretty steep and difficult hike, but damn what a nice view it is at the top.

Even though this was a cliché metaphor, it is incredibly true. It is an uphill climb, because with every small step we take, it gets better. Every small goal you set to make your life better will help! I can change my life, and you can change your life. Drastically too!
A big step I took was to apply here, and I am so incredibly glad I did.

My year at folk high school has changed my life! Saved my life if you can say it that way. I can't remember ever being so happy. The feeling of belonging I've felt, using my body every day, experiencing the fantastically beautiful nature that exists in Norway, makes me feel whole. I've noticed during my year here that I'm no longer just a small part of nature, but nature has also become a big part of me. I'm in love with our country and can't get enough, hehe.

In the winter, I sometimes think that I would rather be in a brighter and warmer country, but then suddenly the sun shines on the white snow, eventually on the green slopes, it sparkles in the water and warms my skin. Then I realize that there is no more beautiful place on this earth than Norway.
And you, dear friends, are helping to make it even more beautiful! Both in terms of appearance - oh my, so many beautiful people - but also especially on the inside. There are great things living in each and every one of us in this room, which we have all been so lucky to experience parts of each other. We have comforted each other, opened our hearts and found out the innermost secrets, we have encouraged each other, laughed together, hugged and kissed, stayed up a little longer than planned in the evening, saw each other tired in the face every morning, we have seen each other both at the top and at the bottom, we have created relationships that, at least for me, mean a lot.
When we sat and wrote in the yearbooks the other day, I realized how much good there is in each and every one of us - I saw it both through what was written to us - it was just nice, nice words, but also in the people who wrote. Everyone here has the ability to say or write something positive about everyone at school. And mean it!
Of course, that says something about you as a person.

You are good, strong, wise, talented, listening, comforting, funny, thoughtful, silly, smart and understanding. I am so glad I have experienced a little of all this and I am so incredibly grateful that you have helped to have such a wonderful life as I have now. I believe that folk high school youth are the best youth. You become more open and accepting, but also more critical and reflective during a year at folk high school. I dare say that you become a little wiser! At least I know that I have become!
I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone again at the reunion next year, and don't hesitate to come visit, you'll find me here.

Now I would like to read a short poem by Hans Børli called June Evening. I think it fits well, both because it has an important message that I think we should follow further in life, but especially because I think it kind of describes how we are here at folk high school, we have enjoyed the time we have had together, relaxed and experienced things. We have made the most of our time, you must continue to do that.

June evening
We sit in a veiled blue June evening
and cools us off on the porch.
And everything we see has a double life,
because we sense it together.

Look - the forest lake lies and shines red
of sunken solefalls kingdoms.
And shiny like a thing of old silver
is the scream that the pocket screams.

And the hedge by the gate burns so quietly
of freshly lit flower tassels.
Now they tremble white in a breath of wind,
- it's like something is urgent...

Oh, move closer to me
here on the kitchen counter!
It is so dizzyingly short at the time
we humans are together

Thank you so much for a wonderful year with you all.