After leaving the safe student apartment in Gothenburg for a 30 square meter sublease in Årsta, Stockholm, he now leads a movement that represents 400,000 students through around sixty student unions.
This during an intense year with an upcoming election campaign and government formation.
Left Gothenburg for Stockholm
Hampus Haugland grew up in Kungälv, a city he describes as perfect until you grow out of it and that it mostly consists of EPA tractors and driving school cars. His fixed point has long been Gothenburg, where he studied to become a teacher of social studies and Swedish at the University of Gothenburg.
Moving to Stockholm now means a major adjustment.
– It's a bit like I've pulled off the band-aid and maybe it's only now that I've really moved away from home? I can't take the bus home to my mother's for dinner anymore, says Haugland.
How the hell am I going to succeed in this?
The involvement in the student and pupil movement has been there since school days. Influencing one's everyday life has always been a given. Hampus most recently comes from the SFS Committee for International Affairs and has a background as chairman of the Gothenburg University Student Union (GUS).
Despite the solid experience, there were nerves involved when the election results were presented this spring…
- 400 students will be directly and indirectly represented by Hampus and vice chairman Victor Holmström.
- An election campaign waiting around the corner, which puts extra pressure on the mission.
- Sunday Anxiety However, his absence is conspicuous – Hampus longs for work even on the weekends.
– Of course it has been a bit nerve-wracking. “How the hell am I going to succeed with this?” I have thought on and off. But with Victor and me (Holmström, vice chairman), an incredible office around us and of course all the members behind us, it feels very safe, says Haugland.
Community and full speed ahead
For Hampus, SFS is about community and strength. He sees the organization as the obvious way to unite the student movement and gain greater impact at all levels.
After a deliberately calm soft start during the first week of the new financial year, the organization is really gearing up. The calendar for the fall is already fully booked.
– Now we're stepping on the gas, it's going full speed ahead. You hear... it's like a roller coaster... Full speed ahead and a lot of fun all the way, concludes Haugland.