Title: From Struggle to Success: One Woman’s Journey to Landing Her Dream Job
In the bustling eighth floor of Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, the neurosurgical ward is decked out for Christmas. Yellow lights dangle from the ceiling, and patients whizz by on stretchers. Amidst this backdrop, Victoria Melkild Karlsen (24) is thriving as a fully qualified healthcare secretary, a role she’s coveted since childhood.
"Working here was always one of my goals," she says, reflecting on her journey. "I struggled to find my way, but now I’ve finally made it."
The Long Road to Haukeland
Victoria’s path to her dream job was not an easy one. Growing up, she felt like she didn’t fit in. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, she struggled to connect with her peers. Her high energy level, compared to that of six or seven children, left her feeling misunderstood and isolated.
"When you don’t like football or Barbie dolls, people think you’re weird," she recalls. "They make fun of you."
Her struggle continued into her time at high school, where she enrolled in a healthcare program. She faced challenges balancing her studies with the long commute, often arriving late and nearing the school’s ten percent absence limit. Then, disaster struck – a motorcycle accident left her injured, her face scarred, and her sight affected. School’s understanding was limited, and Victoria felt unsupported.
"I thought I could drop out, get rid of the problem, and come back later," she says, looking back on her decision to leave school. What followed was a period of isolation, depression, and dependence on social welfare.
Nav, the Turning Point
Victoria found herself back in therapy, bruised and struggling with her mental health. Initially, her Nav (Norway’s welfare and labor administration) handlers misinterpreted her as lazy, pushing her towards construction jobs she was neither motivated for nor capable of. But a move to the neighboring municipality of Bjørnafjorden brought a change of fortune. There, she met Nav handlers who genuinely listened and understood her needs.
Together, they set short-term and long-term goals, had regular meetings, and arranged for psychological support. Victoria discovered she had ADHD and dyslexia, and with her Nav team’s help, she returned to education, completing her training as a healthcare secretary without breaks or extra exams.
"I could never have done it without their support," she says, her eyes gleaming with gratitude. "They helped me find my way when I was truly lost."
Nav’s Role in Supporting Youth
Today, around 10% of young people aged 15-29 are neither in education nor employment in Norway. In Vestland alone, this amounts to over 14,000 young people. Fylkesdirektør Bjarte Hysing-Olsen of Nav Vestland acknowledges the lack of a clear ‘Plan B’ for youth dropping out of school.
"We’re not good at seeing these young people as individuals, at understanding their struggles," he admits. "We need to be part of their support network, their ‘heinalgjen’ (gang)."
Professor Kristoffer Chelsom Vogt of the University of Bergen (UiB) agrees that youth unemployment is a complex issue. While he notes the decreasing trend in Norway compared to other European countries, he also highlights society’s increasing impatience with young people’s transition into the workforce.
"Overcoming barriers to employment has always been challenging and time-consuming for many young people," he says. "It’s not a new issue. What’s new is society’s growing impatience with the process."
Victoria’s Success Story
Now, Victoria is thriving at Haukeland, working long days under high pressure. She’s grateful for the support that helped her turn her life around, from social welfare to psychiatric care, and especially, her Nav handlers who saw beyond her struggles and helped her find her path.
"I never thought I’d be here, working at my dream job. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me along the way," she concludes.
As Nav’s systems and society’s expectations evolve, stories like Victoria’s serve as reminders that every individual requires bespoke support and understanding. And with the right help, anyone can come out on top.
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