Two beers with Hedda Hedda Mejlænder-Larsen

I meet Hedda in Klubben. She got to choose where we should meet based on where she feels most “like herself”.

The logo of Samfunnet shines on her green jumper. The smiling eyes glance through the glasses. We are ready for two beers and a good, long conversation.

Journalist: Silje Bie Helgesen

Photographer: Astrid Moltu

The introvert who became an extrovert

She scratches her short, scruffy hair as I ask her to tell me who Hedda Mejlænder-Larsen actually is. She admits that she finds it especially hard to talk about herself. Hedda thinks a bit before saying that she used to be a reserved person, something that is contrasted strongly with how most of us would describe her. While in Bærum, she felt like she could not quite fit in, and that it was difficult to find her place.

“In younger years, when everyone wanted to be as conformist as possible. While others were walking in the middle of the road, my path was off to the side.”

Hedda found her own path and did not care if anyone followed in her steps. It was therefore a liberating feeling when she came to Ås and saw that everyone was creating their own paths here.

Grandmother and the sea

Hedda grew up in an extended family in Bærum, close to her grandmother and grandfather. “Every Saturday grandma and grandpa would open their house and make buns and lunch for the whole family. It was a core memory in my childhood.” Grandma has been very important in Hedda’s life. The girl says that she sat and held her grandma’s hand the whole day before she passed away.

She smiles as she remarks the summer idyll in Sørlandet where her extended family has multiple cabins on the same plot of land. Hedda describes it as a type of holiday colony with her thirteen cousins. By the open ocean is where Hedda feels at home, with the clear salt water that shows the path all the way to Denmark. “I have grown up with the boating life and the sea, the smell of sea and salt is the best. Ås would have been perfect if it was by the sea.”

The path to Ås

Hedda began her studies in a place totally different from Ås. She says that she started studying law in Stavanger after high school, where she studied for two whole years before completely changing her choice of study. “I found my roots in Maths and Physics, since both mom and dad are civil engineers.” Where could one study industrial economics? After much back and forth, Hedda chose Ås, something she will never come to regret. She says that it is weird to think about what kind of version of herself she would have become in Trondheim, her second choice.

Found herself

As a 20-year-old, Hedda came to Ås. At a new place, with a totally new study programme and a new study environment, she wanted to start with a new mindset.

“The most important choice I made was to jump into everything I got an opportunity to do, regardless of how unsure I was about it. Now I shall bloom.”

Hedda had experienced the feeling of not fitting in, and now she wanted to change that. From the buddy week onwards, she joined the Security Committee at Samfunnet. There, she had one shift before UKA 2018 broke loose, where she was a volunteer. Further, she agreed to be the Social Committee leader for industrial economics’ study association. Additionally, she became the class representative. These were the positions Hedda agreed to in the first semester, and it set the standard for the coming years she had in store.

“I would rather regret the things I did than the things I did not do when I am old and grey. It has become my life’s motto,” she says. Hedda says that she does not have any dreams, nor any exact plans for how she wants her life to look like. “I do not want to dream up a specific life, I want to base my life around what I have here and now,” she notes.

The highest peaks of joy to the deepest valleys (TW: Mentions of suicide)

Corona came close to Hedda, who was in the Security Committee. She thinks back to the feeling of being the villain who had to ask people to hold a one-meter distance, wear masks, and make people sit in the same spot for the whole evening.“I was really looking forward to standing in the queue to Johanne’s, shoulder to shoulder with people, thinking about how crowded it is”.   She remembers the general meeting about whether UKA 2020 was to happen at all. It was therefore extremely liberating to see it executed so well. “To be at the opening concert of Klovner i Kamp during a lockdown in Norway was one of the sickest experiences I’ve had,” she smiles.

After five years, life has offered ups and downs, which together have formed the person Hedda is today. In cold November, Hedda received shocking news. A friend in the dorm had committed suicide. They had been on a cabin trip the weekend before, so the news came out of the blue. “I came home and was not allowed to go up the stairs to my dorm. After waiting for a bit, a policeman came down and told me what had happened, and who had committed suicide,” she says. Hedda breathes heavily before saying that her biggest fear was to not handle this situation well. She was left with a buzzing head and many questions. What was it that separated him and her? “There were times I was not feeling good about myself.”

Hedda’s friends have been vitally important, and gave her support through tough times. Since she kept up a facade in countless roles she had in the society, being able to talk about this has gotten her through the painful times. “It is crucial to talk about it,” she explains. Mental health is important to her, and she wants everyone to have a place to turn to. She hopes to push Samfunnet to become such a place.

The leader of Samfunnet

Hedda has crossed paths with different people during her five years here in Ås.  “The best thing about Ås is that one has the opportunity to join in on things, regardless of where they come from, what they study, and what kind of person they are.”

Hedda’s plan was never to become the leader of Samfunnet. In 2021, she ran for the position of the Head of UKA but lost the election. Nobody was competing to become the leader of Samfunnet, so Hedda took the chance. “Maybe it was fate that it turned out this way. Such a position meant that I would contribute to the community that I myself have gained so much from,” she says.

Through this past year, she has learnt a lot, including being able to say no to things.“It’s all about priorities. I do not think that my duties have been stressful, because I have set aside time for them. In other words, the studies have ended up at the bottom of the list sometimes,” Hedda smiles.

Hedda laughs and says that there is no way she can sit at home on the sofa for two days in a row. She derives energy from things that are fun and puts her life in the routine that holds “the rhythm”. “I want to fill the days so that I don’t sit at home ruminating and having a bad time.”   

The morning routine

At six o’clock in the morning, the Bærum girl gets up to go for a jog. She hates training at the gym and really wants to make sure nobody sees her run. She explains that the benefits of training do not matter to her that much, as long as she manages to get herself out of bed and keep up with her routine. If she does not get through her morning routine, the whole day can be ruined.

Hedda’s tips to the new students

Hedda says that the “Studentenes Kall” (The students’ call) song describes student life. “The student’s call is to crash and fall in the carnival of life’. The student life has its ups and downs, but it can be the best experiences in life if one gives just a little of yourself”.

She has lived up to that with her 12 positions over five years. We take the final toast to Hedda’s enormous contribution to the student environment, before my notebook snaps shut again.

Greetings to Hedda

Dear Hedda!

Thank you so much for giving us the pleasure and honor of having you as both a leader and a friend!
Your determination and initiative are admirable, the fact that you are always there to step up regardless of how much is going on is insanely impressive. It is something we appreciate immensely. It makes it safe for us that you still spend many hours at the house.

It is impossible to name all of your great qualities as there are so many, but some that we value especially is your knowledge, your good humor, and, finally, your ability to make great meeting snacks. If there is something we cannot figure out – you are the first one we ask, and you always strike up a nice conversation with us, both serious and just banter.

We are so glad for all the experiences we have had with you, everything from a sailboat nach in Ålesund, shenanigans in Øltønna, and tea in Klubben.

We love you very much and are proud to have had you as a leader! (The kindergarten sends you an extra greeting)

Many hugs from the Samfunnet Board

The super engaged Hedda Mejlænder-Larsen

Hedda Mejlænder-Larsen, to be a Bærum-girl, we would say that you are a quite deviation from the stereotypes. One would have to look for a long time to find a person more grounded, jovial, and inclusive than you. One of the first things one usually hears when coming into Hedda’s home in Eplehagen is: “would you like a GT?”. You are certainly quite the hostess, whether it is by inviting us to dinner, various baked goods on a casual Thursday, evening drinks, or cabin trips. If there is one thing you are good at (apart from living the happy life in Sørlandet over the summer), it is contributing to something bigger than yourself. You have, among other things, been a bank functionary during UKA in 2018, a committee chief for UKA in 2020 as the Financial Assistant, a committee chief for security at Samfunnet, and last but not least, leader of the Student Society last year. If there is anyone who lives and breathes for the Student Society – it is really you!

We appreciate you so much as a friend. You always step up when its needed and almost never say no to a request to come up with some shenanigans. There have been many memories we shared over these past years, such as lunch dates at Vitenparken, walks during corona, 17th of May breakfasts, a spontaneous trip to Edinburgh, and countless late evenings. There shall be more memories as well! We are very excited about which paths you will choose now that the student life is coming to an end. But one thing is certain – we are really looking forward to following along everything you set out to achieve.

Greetings from Guro, Emma, and Sanne <3

Hedda, you are a structure monster like no other, who has more control over my schedule than myself, even though we do not take the same classes anymore. After all, it is the kind of thing that is needed when one must balance studies with countless positions, a burning commitment to the student culture, and, at the same time, care for those around you. With a passion for Gin & Tonic, and love for a good party in general, you still end up shamelessly at a lecture at 8 in the morning. Because obviously you had jogged at 6 am already.

We have experienced much of what there is to experience at the Agrarian Metropole together, but a ski farm cannot last forever, soon it shall move onto the next phase. Wherever the journey goes, I am sure that it will go well. You are not quite an adult just yet, but pamp life (the time after one finishes a stint as an elected representative or committee head) suits you. I am excited for the next time we drink beer in bodega while howling the stentor songs!

Cheers to the memories we do not remember with the friends we will never forget!

Johannes Voll