Two Beers: Idun Gjøby
Two Beers with Idun Gjøby
When I ask Idun where she feels most at home, she replies that Eika is the place closest to her heart. So we settle down on a sunny bench outside Eika overlooking the iconic tree that the fitness centre is named after. Idun is a person who, through her work, has motivated and touched many lives here at Ås, although she may not see it that way herself.
Journalist: Celine Våga
Photographers: Astrid Moltu and Tuva Hebnes
The start of a journey
In the autumn of 2018, Idun's journey started here in Ås. Her plan was to become a veterinarian, and as both her parents had studied in Ås, the choice of study location came naturally. She started by taking a year of two-year STEM specialisation with biology and animal science, choosing relevant subjects to enter the veterinary medicine study. The idea was actually to move back home to Toten after this year, but Idun really liked Ås . After three years buzzing around Ås, she also entered the prestigious veterinary medicine study.
During this time, she was dragged along to group workouts at Eika by some friends, and then it was done. She got bit by the bug and says that she had finally found her thing. "I became addicted. I was there every day," Idun laughs. For two years, she was a fixture at the fitness centre before a position as group instructor at Eika was advertised. At first, she thought that, "I’m too scared to apply for that," but she also knew that it would have been foolish not to do so. "At the time, I was the one who spent the most time Eika," she laughs. So, she decided to apply, thinking that if it turned out not to be for her after all, she could just quit knowing she had at least tried. "It's the best choice I've made in my entire life," she admits. After getting accustomed to it, she realized that this was where she was supposed to be and that "it felt right".
Eika - A sanctuary and a social arena
Idun does not feel that she needs social events to be socially stimulated and is not one of the people who often go to Samfunnet or parties. For Idun, Eika is a safe haven and social arena. This is where she comes to exercise, enjoy herself and be social outside of school. It is at Eika she finds the people who have the same interests and motivations as her. "I beleive that there are quite a few others who are also not part of Samfunnet, and are rather at Eika," she says. She points out that there often is a social pressure to always be involved in all kinds of things. "It's okay to say no when you want, but it's also healthy to be pressured by friends," she explains.
Improvement and motivation
At Eika, Idun really feels that she gets things done, and feeling capable is great. She says that she went from being an insecure girl who doesn't believe that her opinions matter to now having a unique feeling of capability at Eika. "It has made me more confident in myself and I have grown a lot as a person," she says. To feel improvement also makes you feel better about what you do, and for Idun, six years as an instructor flew by. Idun believes that one of the most important things needed to do a good job and to motivate others is to be motivated yourself. "It really shows that I'm enjoying myself," she believes. If she is going to work with this for the rest of her life, which she would like to do, it is important for herself to find it fun and to be motivated.
When I ask her what motivates her, she replies that, "Feedback and praise drive me and motivate me to do even better." It's about the trust you get from others to do better and the trust that strangers place in you and your qualities. She says that she has a basic idea that she, and what she does, does not matter. It is when she receives feedback to the contrary, that she gets a spark that pushes her forward.
She admits that when covid hit, she lost some motivation, "Which was incredibly sad," she says. This, as well as the progression of her studies, has meant that her popular group lessons have become somewhat fewer recently. But group classes are something she loves to do, and despite most things, she still holds step and strength classes. Although she can often seem like a strong and carefree person at work, she also has bad days. "There are times when I have turned up at work with heartbreak or with deep grief after a loss in the family," she says. But somehow, she has managed to show up, turn around, and stand there with a smile and energy she can share with others. "It takes a lot of willpower," she says. At times it has simply been about having to turn things around, and that it has happened against all odds.
Being a role model
When she stands in the front and has to lead a class, she quickly becomes a 'role model' for others. In group lessons as an instructor, she is tough, but she quickly adds that, "A platform matters." When she stands there and is about to give a lesson, she is full of adrenaline and focused on doing her best for those in the room.
Those who come to her classes once a week get a picture of who she is and what she can do; they don't see everything else. She readily admits that spinning and running are not things she considers herself a master of. You usually get good at something if you stick with it for a while, so it's no wonder that Idun looks strong as an instructor in her classes. "They probably get a glorified image of who I am, ...but I'm more than just the one hour," she says.
Demanding studies and high thresholds
Idun makes no secret of the fact that the veterinary medicine study is demanding. There is a lot of reading and a lot of work to be done, and a lot of motivation and dedication is required. "There are many veterinary students who have to sacrifice a lot [for their studies]," she says. For many, both social life and family are failing. Because school is so difficult, it is all the more important to have a safe haven where you can feel that you are getting things done. For Idun, this sanctuary is the group lessons at Eika, one place where she can often ease her mind. "It's been absolutely necessary for me," she says.
She admits to having felt that feeling where everyone around you is incredible, except you. She tells what it's like to work hard for results that don't necessarily come, and that it's a heavy thought to have. She has always been open about the fact that pursuing veterinary medicine studies is not a walk in the park. She herself has had to struggle with demanding subjects and failing exams. Among the vets, not many people speak out about failing exams, something that Idun really misses and wishes was more normalised. "It's hard to feel like you're the only one," she says. The student culture at such a prestigious study as veterinary medicine could have benefitted from lowering the threshold for having these discussions.
Reducing stress
In the future, she wants to work in food safety, the only one in her class who is leaning towards this career path. Being a clinician or working with intensive animal farming seems like a bit too much stress. "I don't like stress," she laughs. A happy life for Idun is a life without stress, so limiting it in her everyday life is important.
Moving forward
Idun's journey in Ås is soon at its final destination. At Christmas, she will finish her studies and have to say goodbye to eight, almost nine, great years in Ås. "It gets incredibly wistful," she says. She says that there is something special about Eika, the students, and the relationships that are built there. Even if she were to start a new job at a new fitness centre somewhere else, things would not be the same. It is at Eika that she has grown as a person and it’s here she has had the most fun. This is where she has 'been forever' and the place that has definitely become a big part of her. "I am eternally indebted to Eika," she smiles.
Greetings to Idun
Dearest Idun, many people value you enormously as a training motivator, and I look forward just as much every time I get to have you as an instructor.
With your special ability to motivate, I get the little extra gear needed to get through even when I just want to give up. In your group lessons, however, you only get a taste of what it's like to have you as a life motivator.
Your unique ability to share the many ups and downs of everyday life is of enormous importance and help to those around you. I am absolutely sure that there are many more people than me who have you as a role model and only dream of being as strong as you (double meaning)! You are a person I think many people turn to if they are having a hard time and need some comfort and someone to talk to. You not only have an incredible ability to show care, but are also fantastically good at spreading joy in the room with a sometimes a little too fun humor and an all too infectious laugh. There are few people with whom I have had so many fits of laughter! Although I wish I could share my entire study time with you, I am eternally grateful for the small, but all-too-quick half a year I got! I can't wait to see you graduate and follow your path forward!
Big hug from Kristiane <3
Lovely Idun! You have been a very important reason as to why I (soon) got through this study. You were the very first person I spoke to, on the stairs outside the main building at Adamstuen, and since then you have been an extremely large part of my study days, and not least, my life. I am so infinitely happy that it was you that I met on that day, and that I got to share these crazy years with you. You've been there when everything has been messed up, you've been the one to complain to when one can't stand more names for muscles, nerves and cells, and when one can't stand more rude vets in the clinic. And last but not least, you were there when I had to have a baby again. You came in the middle of the night to look after Ella, and took her with you to Eika, so that I could relax during the birth and know that Ella was fine. I can say with 100% certainty that I wouldn't have been able to do this without you, and even though I've been fooling around for 5 years now with the fact that we have to have joint authorization, I mean it a little. I would have liked to have had you in the car to the west country, and shared the scary weekday as a veterinarian with you. But I get to enjoy the last year of my studies with you, and be open to sharing the time of differentiation with each other. And then you have to live with me calling you daily to ask for advice and support when I feel useless, or tired of my husband, children, colleagues and producers. So I'm crossing my fingers that one day you'll see how wonderful the west country is, and come and join me in the practice car. You are the best, and I am so happy for you!
Love, Ingrid <3
Dear Idun! Think we're almost done now. Thank you for letting me get to know you. You are an exuberant mood spreader, who is not afraid to show who you are. You are an insanely strong person, both physically and mentally, and it is admirable how you keep working, even when things are a little difficult. I look forward to watching you grow in the veterinary profession. 😃
Thank you for the time at school, the clinic, study trips, car trips to Adamstuen and not least that you for always inviting us mothers to parties. Should probably also show up more for training, but it will be in a different life 🙈 You are always welcome at Vestlandet 😃
Kiss and love, Agnes
"Dear Idun! What are group lessons at Eika without you? No one can imagine that. Thank you for all the motivating words, especially on days when the desire to work out is not great. Smiling, bubbly, inspiring and happy, with you the workout is always good! Rhymes and rules aside - Idun, thank you for showing up every single week to share your joy of training with us. It is a highlight of our everyday life and we look forward to every single class. We see how much effort is behind it and appreciate that you continue year after year. We will continue to meet up as long as you are there! Eika (and all the students in Ås) are lucky to have you. See you at the next lesson! Big hug from your faithful Step gang" .
With best regards
Malin
Dear Idun! Imagine how lucky we were to live in the same house in Ås! We came up with so many funny things during the year the three of us lived together; theme parties, x number of pre-parties, dinners, training and last but not least we played through several blocks with maxiyatzy. There are several reasons why we like you. You are generous and considerate. You set high goals for yourself and always go all in when you decide to do something. You are a good conversation partner. You see other people. And sometimes you are funny! You rock both the role of group exercise instructor and veterinary student. We are proud of you, and are sure that our friendship will last a lifetime!
Biiiiiig hugs from your favourites: Åse and Guro
During the corona era, a poster with the inscription "På By'n" has hung in Brekkeveien. It hung there because Idun thought it was too sad with all the closed nightclubs, so she made sure that all her friends had enough to dance and drink during an otherwise lonely time. Idun organized cabin trips, bonfire trips and the Beer-lympic Games. She opened "Kaisas Bar" with its own menu on the occasion of the undersigned's birthday. Some drank enough for the ambulance to arrive, but we don't talk about that.
I am so lucky to have met Idun just before the pandemic, when it happened we quickly formed a cohort. You carried me through my master's thesis. In the form of solid and liquid food, the dinner dance and dog clothes, you motivated me to persevere and ensured that I didn't die of boredom at the most depressing of times. We entered into a barter where you would teach me how to exercise in exchange for me teaching you how to drink. The latter was easy, the former you are still struggling with. I'm a little unsure of what you got out of that trade, but I'm eternally grateful that you're still persevering.
You are wise, steady and exceptionally energetic. Where I'm lazy, you make sure things get done. You think, for example, that I took too long to buy an apartment, then you just as easily went to viewings instead of me. It surely ended in a purchase aswell. Idun is the one who throws herself into a week's spontaneous road trip at four hours' notice. On departure, not only are all the overnight stays planned, there is also a packed lunch.
Dear Idun, thank you for being so strong that you dare to be vulnerable. Many of us have enjoyed your words of wisdom during the group lessons and that is one of the many reasons why we always come back. Thank you very much for forever many memories, the dogs and I are very happy with you.
Many hugs from Kaisa, Loffen and Binders.
