Arnhildur Lilý Karlsdóttir – interview

Arnhildur Lilý Karlsdóttir is a master's student in the Department of Art Education at the Icelandic Institute of Technology.

"I moved to Álftanes in the summer. I was 6 years old and started school in the fall. At that time, the community in Álftanes was quite small and tight-knit and the school only went up to the 7th grade. Álftanes was called a village in the city and was a proper name because we jumped over ditches on our way home from school or sneaked to shorten our route across the farmer's field at Sviðholt, even though the sheep were out."

After completing elementary school, Arnhildur Lilý attended Hamrahlíð High School, studying music, but her high school years were to prove very formative for her.

"MH is well known for its strong Icelandic and literature teaching, and I soon transferred to the Arts track where I took all the Icelandic and literature courses I could. The teachers were excellent and the teaching was characterized by ambition, humor, and sparkling enthusiasm."

She was so impressed that after graduation, General Literature at the University of Iceland was automatically Arnhildur's next stop.

"However, a degree alone did not satisfy my hunger for literature, so I also completed a master's degree in General Literary Studies. I have rarely seen job advertisements specifically aimed at literary scholars, as there is no direct path after graduating from literary studies. However, the program provides a very good foundation for all text and research work, as well as training in applying critical thinking in reading and work," says Arnhildur, who has worked in a wide range of fields since graduating, dealing with everything from project management to innovation.

"My years at MH were to have a lasting impact later on when I began to think about wanting to become a teacher myself. Before I enrolled in pedagogy at LHÍ, I considered adding teaching qualifications, but when I discovered that I could apply to LHÍ despite not having a background in the arts, I immediately found it an exciting option because I believe that art methodology is well suited to general teaching," says Arnhildur Lilý, who has greatly enjoyed her studies.

"I am very grateful to have chosen the path of studying at LHÍ, I have met great people and I feel richer as a result. I feel that there is a difference in coming back to study after being in the labor market for a while and the experience of being a student becomes different. I have been very happy with the course offerings at LHÍ and the teaching is excellent. I actually feel a bit sad that I am only in a diploma program knowing that the program will soon end," says Arnhildur, whose diploma program is a one-year program leading to teaching qualifications for students with a master's degree.

"I'm now in my last semester and I feel a mixture of joy and regret, as I could well consider continuing my studies, but I'm also very excited about what's to come. I dream of teaching Icelandic and literature in a high school after I graduate. The high school years are full of experiments and emotions, and it's so exciting to be there, look to the future, and adjust to being an adult. It's fun to teach this age group, and high school-age youth are incredibly fun!"