What I do for a living
All photos by me, for Imageakademiet
The other day I realized I haven’t really written that much about what I actually do for a living, so now the time has come. But to understand how I got here, I also have to say a little about things I’ve done before. After high school I studied English (both literature and the language itself) for a year, before I started my music studies. For about four years I tried to understand how I wanted to sing, and then how to make it sound the way I wanted, in addition to studying general pedagogics. I had a band, I had a blast – then in the middle of it all, I got sick (this won’t be a post about my medical history, but it is important, so I can’t just exclude it completely).
It started with a horribly (I’m sorry to say it) incompetent doctor, who couldn’t figure out I had mononucleosis, even though I had all the classic symptoms. I was tired all the time, a weird kind of tired, and I couldn’t exercise it away or just “get over it”. After almost two months of this, another doctor finally set things straight, but by then I had worn myself completely out. I got slightly better after a period of much resting, tried to focus on my music studies, but generally had a hard time getting back in the game. The worst thing was how I didn’t have a legitimate reason for being so tired all the time, how I couldn’t really focus, how exercising seemed to make things worse.
I somehow aced my final vocal exam. My sister Cookie decided to move to Oslo for her studies, and convinced me to come along. I spent an autumn first looking for a job, then working as a vocal teacher while being rather miserable. I hardly knew anyone in Oslo. I got dumped, kinda brutally and completely out-of-the-blue, by the guy I’d loved for more than five years. I worked in the evenings, so I had all morning to sit at home and be tired – because yeah, I still was. Fortunately, Maja (that brilliant, brilliant girl) started suspecting there might be something actually wrong with me, something like depression. I wrote down all my symptoms (as vague as most of them were), and the doctor agreed pretty much instantly.
After that, some things changed rather quickly. Not the depression stuff, but the career stuff. I stumbled across an ad for Imageakademiet, for a new study that would teach people to become fashion consultants. I applied, got in, and completed the studies. I’m not quite sure how I managed it (though I know my family and closest friends were absolutely essential), but I graduated at the top of my class, even though I’d been home sick more than I’d have liked to. One day during my last weeks there I went to the head of my study, and basically told her that if they needed a teacher for… anything I could do, then I hoped they would consider me. And they did! Which brings me to what I do now: working as a fashion consultant.
My main job is at Imageakademiet, where I teach PhotoShop, Textile Knowledge and a class called Colour and Style, which has to do with colour analysis, body shapes and personal style. I love teaching. Teaching tends to be considered a mundane and easy profession, but for me, it’s anything but – it’s challenging, interesting and creative. This fall I also started a new job for Imageakademiet, as a blogger. I’ve been delaying to tell you this as we’re giving our websites a complete makeover, but I just can’t wait any longer.
Right now, that blog can be found at Imageakademiet.com, where every post written from August 20th until now are written by me. It’s in Norwegian, so sorry all you lovely internationals, but I also do most of the photos, so you can at least give them a look if you’re interested. Blogging professionally is challenging, especially as I have to represent Imageakademiet, not Maria. Still, I get better at it every day, and my colleagues seem to be pleased with what I do, so it’s all good. The best part is how I get to do so many different things: writing, interviewing, taking photos, even creating videos.
As a side project, I sometimes work as a personal stylist. Mainly, this means that I talk to clients about their style, then help them figure out the tricky bits, and work out what can make them look the way they want. I might visit someone at home to sort through their wardrobe, or help them put together an outfit for a special occasion or trip. Sometimes we’ll go shopping together, after I’ve done some research alone to find possible items. It’s different from teaching, obviously, but in some ways similar as well. Generally I’d say it requires more… finesse, somehow, because when working with someone’s style, you’re pretty much working with their entire life – with all that entails. It’s extremely important to be trustworthy and discreet.
The absolute best moments are when it feels like I truly made a difference to someone’s life, whether it’s a student or a client or a blog reader (yes, you really are that important to me!). That knowledge means even more when I’m not working, as I’m still not well, as you probably know. I know much more about how to handle that bloody depression, but anxiety and CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) are newer to me, and thus more tricky. I’m allowed to work about 40% of what’s considered full-time, so I spend a lot of time at home on my couch/bed. On bad days, I still feel like I should be able to just “snap out of it”, or like I’ll never be able to work full-time like my peers. When someone asks what I did yesterday, and all I have to say is “read a book, slept”, it’s very hard not to feel simply lazy (I live with a dancer, for crying out loud) – and even worse, it sometimes feels like the other person thinks the same.
Fortunately, I’m not able to read minds (it’s so easy, isn’t it, to imagine we know what someone else is thinking?), and I do believe most of my friends and family are at least sympatethic, even if they can’t fully understand what my situation is like. Simply getting a text message in the morning, asking me how I am or if I want to do something later, can truly make a supremely crappy day so much better. Or even just an e-mail with a picture of Ed Westwick. Not to mention those wonderful, wonderful comments you guys write! I have this notebook that holds important info, such as interviews I’ve done for work, or important dates. The first four pages are filled with your encouraging comments, and they do wonders on days when I feel like my blog is a waste of time. Thank you, so, so much, darlings! It means the world.
PS: If you have any questions, whether it be about my work or my health or my taste in men, don’t hesitate to ask.
I love reading your blog, every single time. And you are an inspiration even if you don’t try.
Thank you, darling!
Du er flott og inspirerende på virkelig alle måter! Du har forbedret mange av mine tanker rundt stil, selvbilde og alt. Jeg føler meg så mye flinkere og bedre med meg selv, om jeg så bare tusler rundt i ullgenser. Jeg håper du får det bedre snart, blir friskere og at du får en lysende fremtid der du kan tjene godt på alt … dette, eller noe. Jeg vet ikke helt hva jeg skal si, men du er bare sikkelig god til å formidle her på bloggen din, så du er nok en ypperlig lærer! Så, jaja. Håper uka blir fin.
Tusen, tusen takk, Lu! Jeg lever lenge på sånne kommentarer, virkelig <3
Dette var veldig interessant og kjekt å lese! Jobben din høyrast skikkelig kul ut
Jeg elsker jobben min
Gøy å få lese litt om hva du driver med og slikt. Og det du skriver om å være syk er nøyaktig det samme som jeg går og tenker. Det er ikke lett… Supert at du klarer å jobbe 40%!
(Jeg vet ikke om du kjenner noen som er i samme situasjon, men hvis du ikke gjør det og føler for å snakke med noen som har det på samme måte, så er det bare å sende en mail eller noe!)
Takk, fine. Jeg syns vi er flinke, jeg
Jeg er så glad for måten du skrev dette innlegget, Maria.
Måten du respekterer og fremstiller sykdom på bør beundres, og andre burde skrive om det på samme måte. Det er jo slik historien din er – det er ikke noe å pakke bort. Du har fått til en stor mengde fantastisk arbeid du har all grunn til å være stolt av. Selvom jeg ikke vet veldig mye om hva du gjør, så ser jeg at du trives, jeg ser at du har jobbet for å komme deg dit du er i dag – jeg ser at du prøver. Jobbmessig utgjør det underverker, du får det virkelig til, og du gjør det du gjør veldig bra – om så “bare” 40%. Det er bedre å gjøre jobben din veldig bra i 40% stilling enn å gjøre den halvhjertet og samtidig slite ut deg selv og ødelegge helsen din i en 100% stilling.
Maria, du er så fin.
Hjertestøv til deg.
(Jeg går under samme navn, jeg er fortsatt hun med det ekleste bloggnavnet tampongsnerk. Jeg kommenterer fra min andre blogg fordi den kanskje er litt mer relevant når det kommer til sykdomshistorien din. (Og, jeg vet, den er ikke hovedpoenget i det du forteller. Jeg ser resten, jeg ville bare ta litt tak i den delen akkurat i dag.))
Det er fint å høre at historien min kan være inspirerende, takk! Og jeg er veldig enig i at 40% er mye bedre enn ingenting
I have been reading your blog for a few years now, and it always has the ability to make me smile. Your posts have motivated to make changes in my life, to step out of my comfort zone when it comes to clothes and to try new things. Reading this post, I thought I would add one more comment reminding you how amazing you and thanking you for brightening my days
*glowing*
Thank you, too, darling.
Being told that I can inspire people to change is unbelievably wonderful
Again – amazing post, hon. I don’t know if I tell you this, but I am always so impressed by how much you achieve despite your circumstances. You’re great, truly!
Your depression was pretty easy to spot seeing as I was smack in the middle of a depression of my own at the time. Takes one to know one, as they say.
Also, I’d be a lot more sartorially challenged had it not been for you! Thanks for the razzle-dazzle <3
Well, I do have some amazing friends who keep me afloat – could hardly do anything without them
Wow, alle postene du skriver er virkelig gull. ^^
Vil bare takke deg for at du har åpnet opp øynene mine og gitt meg et bedre forhold til kropp og klær. Jeg respekterer mitt ytre mer og ser verdien å føle seg fin for sin egen del. Du er fantastisk flink til det du driver med, jeg lærer så mye av denne bloggen.
Hurra! Hurra! Hurra!
For the past two years I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression as well so I know how unable one becomes sometimes due to that. Despite that, I went to study abroad (Belgium) and got my master’s degree with distinction and all, which right now I’m really proud of! I guess I’m still not over with my depression which was a consequence of losing someone really close to me and not knowing how to deal with it but I’ve learnt to manage most of my bad days and as to the anxiety I’m working on it too but it has taken a little more time since it’s also new to me. It’s kinda hard to explain what you’re going through to people that have no idea about this stuff or no empathy whatsoever but eventually one learns how to live with it.
Anyway, as I can see you’re doing a great job and the most important thing, I believe, is to stay on track, that is, keep working and doing things because that helps to keep your mind busy and active. So keep on the good work!
That’s incredibly impressive, Rocio! I think you hit it spot on when you talk about how dealing with depression/anxiety is SO MUCH about “just” managing it, getting used to it, learning how to handle it. My anxiety-things also appeared much later than the depression-stuff, and at first I didn’t really understand it at all. We’ll get better, though, both of us, I think
Thank you, and the same to you!
Thanks for sharing your story. Your job sounds so interesting! I think you are a beautiful, brave and intelligent young woman – and your blog is definitely not a waste of time. You’re a big help and inspiration to a lot of us!
Take care x
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I guess whenever I need inspiration to write a new blog post, I’ll come back here and read all your lovely comments, they’re really inspiring
Om du noen gang vil legge ned bloggen, vil jeg nok bli litt trist.
Jeg har alltid hatt en veldig sær stil når det kommer til klær og liker å utfordre hva jeg går med konstant, og du har absolutt hjolpet meg i å velge rett i mange situasjoner. Nå tenker jeg mye mer bevisst og kan utfordre stilen min på en sikker måte, om det går an å si. Poegnet jeg skal frem til er, hver gang jeg leser på siden din lærer jeg noe nyttig, jeg ler, jeg blir glad og jeg blir litt seriøs i det sentimentale ^^ hverdagen min blir litt rikere.
Jeg synes du er super tøff og kul som deler med oss, og ikke minst synes jeg du kan jo alt, og er rå god!
(eller kanskje du ikka kan fotball, men det er på en måte ikke så viktig i mitt hodet)
Og i all hemlighet kunne jeg noen ganger ønske jeg hadde en søster som Cookie har, men det er hemmelig.
Rapunzel✿
Haha, jeg tror fotball er den tingen i verden jeg kan dårligst, faktisk (på tross av et søskenbarn som ble proff, og en ungdomskjæreste som var skikkelig fotballgutt, til og med). Takk for en nydelig kommentar, kjære
Spennende å lese hva du jobber med og hvordan du takler sykdommen i tillegg. Jeg har strevd med tilbakevendende depresjon siden en alder av 16 og gikk på veggen da jeg var i jobb for ca. et år siden. Jeg begynte på skolen høsten i fjor da jeg fremdeles var sykemeldt. Det ble et hardt semester, men på en eller annen måte kom jeg meg igjennom det. Jeg føler at jeg fremdeles prøver å finne meg selv i en alder av 26 år og det plager meg at jeg fremdeles er usikker på hva jeg egentlig skal holde på med resten av livet.. Men, uansett – det er veldig inspirerende å lese hvordan du fant frem til tross for sykdom og at du er i stand til å jobbe 40%.
Den der veggen, altså. Alle burde få utlevert en symbolsk slegge når de blir født, og klare instruksjoner om hvordan rive ned en vegg før man så mye som kommer borti den, spør du meg. Klart, det er ikke BARE negativt, da – vi blir litt smartere av det etter hvert, blir vi ikke? Jeg tror det. Kjempekudos til deg for at du kom deg gjennom det semesteret! Og hvis det er noen trøst, så føler ikke jeg heller at jeg vet hva jeg skal gjøre resten av livet. Eller, jeg tror den foreløpige planen er å ikke kun gjøre én ting, men så mange jeg bare får til, og de trenger ikke nødvendigvis ha noe med hverandre å gjøre heller! Tross alt, 26 er jo ingen alder, virkelig, selv om det ofte kan føles sånn
Jeg er verdens dårligste til å kommentere sånt som er dypt og fint og viktig, så jeg har gitt litt opp….
Du er så fin, Maria. Virkelig. Så fin, og ekte og god!
Bare det at du tok deg tid til å legge igjen noen ord betyr masse, Tone, darling. Takk!
Just wanted to leave a quick note to say I think it’s wonderful everything you’re doing even as you deal with depression and cfs, which I know can be debilitating. In college I had a horrible bout of mono, and since I didn’t know what it was (thought it was just a cold) and was studying full time as well as working as a professional dancer umpteen hours a day, I basically wore myself down to the ground and ended up hospitalized. I recovered fairly quickly but the whole thing left me depressed and exhausted for much longer than the doctors thought I ‘should be’. So while it wasn’t chronic and I’m not dealing with it anymore, I do have some understanding and a great deal of respect for what you’re doing. Just wanted to say Keep it up!
Pardon my French, but mono is a true salope. How you managed to study full time with it, I have no idea, but to be a professional dancer as well… and my sister is four months away from being one, so I have an inkling of the work it involves. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But what a relief it didn’t become permanent, that’s wonderful! Thank you for your encouragement, and the same to you
Amazing post. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
You’ve accomplished a lot and it’s really inspiring. It’s so refreshing to see someone who is so positive in spite of it all, brave and inspiring. You are nothing short of amazing.
Thank you, Lindsay, it’s nice to hear my post didn’t come out as just one big rant! If it’s any consolation, I’m not _always_ this positive; I’ve had my share of punching pillows and whining on the couch as well. That being said, I am proud. If writing about my experiences can inspire you readers, then I’m even more pleased
Maria, it’s wonderful that you have accomplished so much despite being less than one-hundred percent healthy. You are doing things that you love and things that mean much to other people.
I was worried about you when I didn’t see your posts for a while, thinking of you in moments quite unexpected. Glad you’re doing fine.
P.S. Am still editing my wardrobe – it’s a nightmare but fun!
How sweet of you to think of me, Jyl – because of my very unstable energy levels, there will be periods where I’m not very active here on the blog, but I always get back in the game after a while
Thank you for your kind words, and good luck on your wardrobe work!
[...] being nice to myself. Because of life (and sometimes because of my CFS), some days I can’t do everything I want, including the two, three or four steps of my skin [...]
Sending love to a kindred spirit. I’ve just read a couple of your blog entries and you and they are wonderful! Keep it up.
Thank you, Maya, darling! I appreciate it a lot