Experiencing Growth Beyond Borders: A Conversation with Henriette
When people ask what makes the Forward College experience unique, one of the first things that often comes to mind is the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, geographically, academically, and personally. For Henriette Kjelaas, a second-year student in Psychology and Business and Leadership, this journey has been shaped by a deep curiosity about the world and a willingness to embrace unfamiliar environments.
We spoke with Henriette about her background, her international experiences, and how studying at Forward College has influenced her perspective so far.
1. How would you describe your background and what shaped your interest in studying abroad?
I grew up in Nesodden, which is a very safe and supportive environment, something I am very grateful for. At the same time, I was always curious about how people live outside of that context.
When I was eleven, I went to an international summer camp in Guatemala for a month without my parents. That experience had a huge impact on me. It sparked my interest in English, but also in different cultures and in connecting with people from around the world.
2. How did your international experiences before Forward influence your path?
After that first experience, I became involved in Children’s International Summer Villages, which eventually led me to apply to United World Colleges.
I spent my final two years of high school at Pearson College in Canada, studying alongside students from all over the world. It was a very defining experience, both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and it confirmed my passion for living and learning in unfamiliar environments.
3. What did you do before joining Forward College?
After graduating, I took a gap year and moved back to Nesodden. During that time, I worked in a kindergarten and at a grocery store.
It was a valuable year, but eventually I felt ready to go abroad again and continue my studies in an international setting.
4. What attracted you to Forward College?
I first heard about Forward from a friend I met in Canada. What really appealed to me was the opportunity to live in three different cities and truly experience cultural differences by being immersed in them.
I also knew I wanted to study psychology, and the combination with Business and Leadership made the programme especially interesting. It allows me to explore human behaviour while also applying that knowledge in practical contexts like leadership and teamwork.
Lisbon and Paris are very different, and I have appreciated both in different ways.
In Lisbon, the lifestyle felt more relaxed and open. I spent a lot of time outdoors, going to the beach, surfing, and exploring Portugal.
Paris offers a completely different cultural experience. I have really enjoyed visiting museums, cafés, and simply walking through the city. Living at the Cité Universitaire has also been a highlight, as sharing spaces with students from different countries creates a very dynamic environment.
6. What are you currently working on academically?
Right now, I am working on a project in my Project-Based Learning course within the Business and Leadership programme.
My team is focusing on robotics in elderly healthcare. The idea is to explore how robots can support healthcare workers by taking over practical tasks. It is especially interesting because we all come from different academic backgrounds, which brings a lot of diverse perspectives into the project.
I also recently completed an assessment on janteloven, a Scandinavian cultural concept. It was very interesting to reflect on it and compare it with the cultures I have experienced abroad.
8. How do you see your future developing from here?
I am hoping to do an internship over the summer related to psychology.
More broadly, I want to continue exploring environments that challenge me and allow me to grow, both academically and personally. That has been a consistent theme in my journey so far.
9. Looking back, what has been the most important takeaway from your journey so far?
For me, it is the value of stepping into unfamiliar situations.
Even though it can be challenging, those experiences have helped me understand both myself and others much better. They have shaped how I see the world and what I want to do moving forward.
