In high school, Liva had a dream of becoming a psychologist and worked hard to get into the program. The year after high school, she joined the military, which surprised many of her friends. She, who was so timid and scared, why would she start there?
"I found a tough side in me that I didn't know I had. Then I thought that psychology would be too boring – I need more action, but I still wanted to work with people."
The year in the military opened her eyes to the possibility of becoming a police officer.
"It wasn't on my radar before I discovered that tough side in me. From the day I decided to become a police officer, I never looked back."
Was Herself During the Interview
Liva applied to Politihøgskolen as soon as the opportunity arose in 2021. The admission process that year was different due to the pandemic. Liva had to complete both personality and IQ tests, and an interview over video.
"When I was interviewed, I wanted to show who I am, not who I try to be. I did it because the police need diversity, and I thought they might need someone just like me."
Three years have flown by, and Liva has gone through everything from basic theory to the internship in Trondheim.
"The study program is very varied and exciting. We get to be part of so much, especially the internship is super cool."
"I think it's nice that on a Wednesday in the middle of the school day, you practice arrest techniques, and on the weekend, you are a regular student out in the city. It's very fun with the big contrasts you get in life as a police student."
Do you think the study has changed you as a person?
"Yes."
How so?
"I have heard from people around me that I have grown, especially during the internship year. You meet many wonderful people you would never have met otherwise, and you become much less judgmental and more understanding. You gain much higher tolerance, really."
Using Experiences From the Internship Year
In the final year, the students meet again after a year interning to process and further develop the experiences from the internship.
"I think the third year is extra exciting since I have my own experiences from the internship year. Today we had a class on fire investigation. We sit in class and discuss different fire scenarios we have encountered during the internship. We talk about why we made the choices we did and what we should have done better. It's more fun to work with theory now when we have hooks to hang it on."
During the year, they also spend three weeks at camp. During the camp period, they stay at one of our study locations in Kongsvinger or Stavern. Here, the students practice planning and handling various situations they may encounter as police officers. This is something Liva looks forward to the most in the final year.
"We have everything from shooting training, tactics, to lots of case training. I think it's fun, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Wants to Support Children and Young People Online
The students have also started working on their bachelor's thesis. Liva will write about how the police's availability on social media can have a preventive effect. After the study, she dreams of working operationally on the street, but before that, she wants to work in the Online Patrol.
"I find preventive police work very exciting. It would be very interesting to work in the Online Patrol. I want to support children and young people online, talk to them, and make it easier for them to contact us online. I hope it can be an entry ticket to working preventively on patrol later."
Do you have any tips for those considering applying?
"One of the most important things at Politihøgskolen is diversity, and most likely, we need someone just like you. I think Politihøgskolen is for many more people than you think. There are, of course, typical police students, but the non-typical ones are just as important. My tip is to be yourself because you want the applicants to represent the differences and diversity in society."