Two Unintentional Peronis with Oskar Solberg Lægland
Two Unintentional Peronis with Oskar Solberg Lægland
A tired journalist meets a tired Oskar Solberg Lægland outside Samfunnet on Sunday at 2 PM. Both are worn out after the previous night’s escapades, so it’s probably fitting that I forgot to buy the requested bayer beer for our scheduled interview. Instead, I’ve brought two Peronis I managed to borrow from a roommate, hoping they’ll be easier on the stomach. Thankfully, this sits well with the President of Samfunnet, and we settle into the Pergola outside Klubben to crack open our Sunday beer.
Journalist: Laura Wanvik
Translator: Oskar Nerheim
Photographer: Malene Tangen
Photographer: Lars-Børge Waag Strømsvik
- People quickly figure out who says yes to things, and in the beginning, I basically just said yes to everything.
The man in front of me is Ås’ most notorious holder of positions, so to get things rolling, I ask for a summary of the roles he’s held during his time at NMBU. In response, I get a list of 15 different positions over his four years in Ås—not including paid work and political involvement. You might know Oskar Lægland as last year’s Chair of the Executive Committee, or as Head of Events at the Wednesday Bodega nights. He’s also been Chair of the Molekylet student association, Chair of the Faculty Board at KBM, and Student Ambassador for NMBU, to name a few. This year, he’s the boss of all bosses: President of the Samfunnet Board, while still serving as Head of Events. Wow, I think—and naturally follow up with the question: does the guy have a problem saying no?
“One hundred percent,” Oskar admits with a smile. “People quickly figure out who says yes to things, and in the beginning, I basically just said yes to everything. It started when I volunteered for the bar committee because my buddy told me you get cheap beer. And once you start doing things, it quickly snowballs.” And snowball it did! From bar volunteer, Oskar became Deputy Bar Commander during UKA, then Head of Events in the Bodega Division, and eventually Chief Executive Director at Samfunnet (all alongside many other roles, of course).
But he hasn’t always been as on top of things as you might think. Oskar doubts that his 14-year-old self could ever have imagined being this active in the student community. The first time he volunteered was at age 16 in high school, when he became a youth football coach at his local club. “Being a football coach is probably one of the most volunteer-based things you can do—I think I got paid 500 NOK a year,” he laughs. He hadn’t really planned on becoming a coach, but he eventually discovered how much he enjoyed the responsibility of “fixing and arranging things.” A few years later, he became a unit representative in the military, and the pattern had already started to form.
“It really started with the feeling that I got a lot out of being involved, and I liked being able to have a say. I generally have an opinion on everything, and by taking on roles, I could voice those opinions to people who had to listen,” Oskar elaborates, with a touch of self-irony. But his involvement also comes from a deeper motivation: to help build a better environment for himself and those around him.
Since becoming a student, it’s been important for Oskar to advocate for students and fight for their interests in dealings with university leadership, the municipality, and broader society. That’s one of the main reasons he took a leave from his studies last year to lead the Executive Committee at NMBU. “National surveys show that even in such an active student community as NMBU, many struggle with social isolation. I believe a lot of those who are struggling would benefit from getting involved in something. That’s why it’s important that those who are already engaged help make these environments accessible to those who aren’t yet part of them,” the Samfunnet President explains.
The sense that his work brings joy to others is a major motivator behind Oskar’s long list of roles. Over the years, he has both gained and shared a lot of knowledge, and discovered the joy of learning alongside others. “I think it’s amazing to see other people master new roles or succeed with a cause they’ve worked on for a long time. When you work at Samfunnet, you see how many of the other volunteers grow and become more confident. I think you become braver when you’re forced to make independent decisions, and that’s a natural part of the work we do,” he says.
Oskar is also one of those who has experienced that kind of personal development. You might assume that someone so active must be extremely extroverted—but that’s not necessarily the case. As a child, he describes himself as quiet and a bit shy. To this day, he still considers himself quite introverted, but he’s become much more socially comfortable over time. “I don’t get exhausted from being around people, but I still find it more comfortable to be alone, gaming or watching a movie,” he admits. Even so, he had already decided before starting at Ås that he would join a committee, knowing it would be a good way into the community. “But I never imagined it would escalate like this—not even close,” the Samfunnet President acknowledges.
So, how did he become so comfortable in leadership roles?
“I think I just decided that it would be more useful to master these things in order to have the freedom to do what I wanted,” Oskar begins. It was important to him not to be held back by fear of things going wrong. With an attitude that most things go just fine, he has overcome such concerns many times. “I believe you can be very introverted and still live a long and happy life—it depends on what you enjoy. But I also think people tend to become passive as soon as they encounter some resistance, and more people could benefit from jumping into things. Most of us have been in tough situations before, and we’ve figured out how to get through them. It’s not unusual to have problems, but the solution always starts with daring to speak up or just show up to something,” Oskar concludes.
Engagement, then, is a recurring theme for the President of Samfunnet, and it’s clear he believes this is a path to a lot of good in the world. Saying yes and daring to try something new has clearly paid off for him personally. “The downside of all this involvement is probably that my studies don’t get as much attention as they probably should,” he admits. Oskar is now starting his fourth year of biotechnology and has to start thinking about his thesis. At the same time, he has just signed a new lease with his girlfriend, and they’re soon moving into a couple’s apartment in Palisaden. With such a packed schedule, there’s not much free time to brag about during the week. So when he does have free time, he prioritizes hanging out with his girlfriend—and maybe gaming a bit now and then. Oskar also has a soft spot for movies and books but admits he doesn’t get to enjoy them as much as he’d like. “If I had more free time, I like to think I’d read a lot more,” he says with a laugh. “It’s a nice thought, at least.”
Before he headed off to work on more meeting papers, I took the chance to ask the volunteer expert for some tips for new volunteers at Ås. The list turned out to be a fitting summary of his personal philosophy—and so, here are Oskar Lægland’s three tips for success:
Say yes – that’s when it all begins!
Believe in yourself – most people can manage most things!
It’s okay if it doesn’t work out – don’t be afraid to fail!
And with that, we wish the President of Samfunnet the best of luck in the year ahead!
Greetings
Oskar, oh Oskar!
We don’t know anyone like you – and we’re pretty sure the world couldn’t handle two.
Thanks for countless political debates, beers, uncontrollable laughter, questionable lab practice, and shockingly little schoolwork.
You’re a top-tier guy! Always social, always on the move, and with immense passion – especially for student life here in Ås. We truly don’t know how you manage it all, but we hope you soon find time to breathe… and maybe cook something better than your meal-prepped week dinners.
We appreciate you so much and look forward to more beers, debates, and good vibes ahead!
– Your Studybuddies
Cheers, Oskar!
What an incredible leader and an inspiring role model you are for us on the Samfunnet Board. There are far too many great things about you to fit into one short note, but we have to highlight a few: You meet every challenge with passion, courage, and an impressive calm. We always know you’ve got our backs, that you listen to us, show up, help where needed – and when we doubt ourselves, you remind us: “We’ve got this.”
We’re incredibly grateful for you and everything you do to help us succeed. It’s truly a joy to have yoxu as our leader – but just as much, as our friend.
Thankfully, our time on the board isn’t over yet – thank goodness for that! We simply wouldn’t manage without Leader Lægland. We’re looking forward to another semester with you – it’s going to be a blast.
Thank you so much for the joy of getting to know you. We wish you all the best – you truly deserve it!
Big group hug from the Samfunnet Board 2025
Dear Oskar,
You are always cheerful, kind, and easy to get along with – a colleague that’s easy to love. In the Executive Committee (AU), we were impressed by how hardworking you are, while still being caring and making sure everyone around you is doing well.
But you have one weakness: you’re a real position junkie 😊 – you take on way too much and seem to thrive when your calendar is packed to the brim. When we in the AU talked about goals for 2025, you said you wanted more free time for gaming and chilling. So… how did that go? You became President of Samfunnet. Maybe next year, Oskar. Maybe.
NMBU students are lucky to have someone as passionate as you. You did an incredible job in the AU, and we’re sure you’ll continue to do so as President of Samfunnet.
Best wishes from your former AU colleagues,
Marthe and Ingeli
