Two coffees: Miranda Moldskred Dørum
Two coffees with Miranda Moldskred Dørum
When I asked her what she loves the most in Ås, she said in this student community, everybody could feel safe showing their true weird self. As soon as she started talking of people in Ås and Samfunnet, her eyes lit up and she kept smiling. A girl, who gained a lot from a community and gave even more back. I found her at her home and we started our morning together with two coffees and a lovely snowy view from her kitchen.
Journalist: Ibolya Váradi
Photographer: Ylva Friberg
A city girl in Ås
Why would you go to Ås of all places?” – Miranda wondered about her elder sister’s decision regarding her university choice. She always considered herself a city girl, who would never go to a smaller town to study or to live. But then something happened. A concert at Samfunnet.
Her favorite singer had a concert here in Ås. So she visited her sister and went to the event. That was the beginning of Miranda and Ås’ love story. She was shocked, but in the best way. She imagined a small, dull town, where you would be bored to death, but she experienced something different. She realized that the life of a student here is sparkling, and can always show something funny and surprising. She also experienced the beauty of small towns. After this party, Miranda became a part of the student society here, even before starting her degree.
You can be weird in a safe place
“You can be yourself and meet many weird, interesting, unique people. Everybody can feel safe showing their true weird personality.” Still, even though she had spent some time here before university, when she first arrived here as a student, she felt completely lost. Although she had had a joyful experience in Ås as a high school student, she had two other university options to consider, and in the end, she chose NMBU. “I made my final decision at the last minute. I was on my way to Ås, with a fully packed car with all of my stuff, and I had no idea what I was going to do. I didn’t even have accommodation.” Then, till she got here, she found accommodation in a private house. This story sums up her character very well. A fearless person, who always goes with the flow, and in the end, she always figures things out. She believes that challenges and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will help you the most to improve your personality. Her latest adventure, for example, was a two-and-ahalf-month trip to Brazil alone, in relation to her master’s thesis.
‘Buddyless’ to buddy leader
Miranda finally arrived at Ås, and found a place to live at the very last minute, but she didn’t have any information about the buddy week or buddy groups. She was about to start extra courses preparing her for Biology major, that’s why they didn’t enroll her in any buddy group. “I thought that I had to collect my courage and had to connect with people.” She messaged buddy leaders, got a buddy group and then decided that she would like to help new students as well. She wanted to make sure, that everyone was included and nobody felt as alone and lost as she felt in her first days. So in the following years, she became a buddy, then a buddy leader.
Everybody needs a breakdown
She could write a novel about all her voluntary work. Without mentioning all: she was a member of Pikekoret IVAR, Foreningen Hunkatten, and worked as event manager in Samfunnet, besides her buddy leader role. It sounds exhausting, and it was. Miranda did so many things simultaneously that she pushed her limits. “Everybody needs a breakdown because this is how you learn your boundaries” - she said about her exhaustion. But why would somebody do this many things? Because to her, people and connections were the main motivation to study. She doesn’t consider herself a person who could sit by a desk all day, so she started to do volunteer work. When she felt exhausted, she would find balance between volunteer work, other responsibilities, and relaxing.
Don’t rush it
When I asked her if she had any good advice for future generations, she said, that we should take our time, because we can only be students once. So, if you finish your studies one year later than originally planned because you need more time, don’t worry about it. She feels that student life gave her so much, and she would never have found so many interesting people in one place outside of university. Her best tip for new students: be open to new people, and don’t rush it!
Sailing away and going back to the jungle
“I dream about simply buying a sailboat and sail a little bit, to have a small break and just see what happens. I would like to travel around because I’ve been a student for a long time now”- she said about her plans after university. Her other plan is to go back to Brazil in the autumn. See you on the sea or in the jungle!
Greetings
A bottle of red wine, white wine and fern for the children’s table, please! That’s how we know Miranda best. Reflected thoughts in one moment, the meanest ideas and fantasies in the next. There is never a dull moment when she is around. Miranda is a lady with a wide range of qualities. This is a lady with a lot of gumption, a big heart for those around her and who always presents herself with an open mind and a positive attitude. It’s fascinating how she can be so distant while being so in control, bloody serious and at the same time so unselfish. Miranda jumps into challenges with both feet, full effort and is not afraid to give of herself.
We look forward to more fun in the future, dancing on the table with liquid black gold in the glass and “Koppen” on the speaker.
Skaal 304!
Life with you as a loft resident was unpredictable – just the way we like it. You threw yourself into all sorts of things
head first, be it as a spa instructor, hairdresser or when it was ready for bathing time in the living room. If, against all odds, everyday life should go against us, you were always ready with a KaffeB and words of support. We also got to witness what an “ildsjel” you are. You darted in and out of 304, always with a little too many plans and too little time. You are a strong, active and committed woman who works hard all day. At night, you are still spinning wildly in all directions, until you thank yourself by falling horizontally onto surfaces full of broken glass.
Miranda Fancysnerk Jordskred Dørum - A.k.a: Skinnypenis
On a cold February day in 2019, there was a dirty figure on the door of Botanisk Hage (BH), dripping with sins from their alleged “backpacking” in “Asia”. There she proudly displayed her stolen property from various parties/children’s birthdays/funerals, including a crystal skull, a sombrero and other dingy things. We began to understand that we had been given the Agrarian’s greatest kleptomaniac to deal with. Although the character was both violent and rude, there was something about her that was appealing and we decided to let her into shelter. Since that day, we have been through countless late nights with juicy stories of raccoons, wet foot slapping, kidney punching and blood peeing. Remember Mirrh; you’re not dead, you’re alive! We like you and you’re cool, etc.
Your ex-roommates Ingrid and Harald,
plus Mette who just came in
