Dear Sir or Madam,

This post is to respond to the first question about my background, in the Network School application.

The most impressive thing I’ve done in my life is carrying and giving birth to my son. I had him at 27, and he is now 16 months old, healthy and beautiful. 

This might seem silly – after all, creating a life is 100% free, and it doesn’t require brain power, courage, mastery, grit, passion or even talent. Yet there is simply no other response I can offer you in honesty. If you prefer a quick answer, then you may stop reading now.

To further reflect on your question though, I might contrast giving birth with my previous more impressive accomplishments.

I have been involved in civil society for over a decade: as a volunteer for Mensa Sweden’s Gifted Children Program, and supported the Army Headquarters during military exercises among other things. Because of my involvement in civil society, I was generously accepted to the highly regarded Leadership course Värdebaserat Ledarskap. This initiative was founded by the King’s Foundation for young leadership, and the diploma ceremony was organised at the castle of Stockholm with HM The King of Sweden present. 

In 2016, I won 2nd price at Sveriges Ungdomsentreprenör (“Sweden’s Youth Entrepreneur”, the “idea of the year” category). My project was a website mapping out all NGO:s in Stockholm aiming to contribute to a better, more safe society – with the goal to make it clearer to young people how to get involved.

I have as well overcome my fear of public speaking and worked as a public speaker – facing over 10.000 students in this role. Maybe a few would find it cool that I went to a ballet high school, graduated with top grades, competed in team gym and played five musical instruments – as well as performed at Austrian Balls and Royal state lunches when the King received heads of states.

Yet, to me, all of these accomplishments combined feel somewhat empty to me. They cannot be compared to the miracle of birthing a new life – and I’d exchange all of it in a heartbeat for the chance to go back in time, meet my husband and start a family earlier.