Unlike many of his secondary school friends, who stuck to their old social circles when they started studying, Bj枚rn went 鈥渁ll in鈥� to become part of the student life at LiU.
鈥� I wanted to meet new people and try new things. I鈥檓 incredibly glad I did, because getting involved right away has given me so much in return.
From meltdown to mindset
Bj枚rn Lagerstr枚m began his studies on the teacher training programme in mathematics in 2001 but later switched to the master鈥檚 programme in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering (Y). One of his more difficult memories from student life was when he got completely stuck on a lab assignment and couldn鈥檛 make sense of it at all.
鈥� I panicked and went out in the woods, where I just stood and cried. I felt like a total failure.
It was thanks to the support and encouraging words from his classmates that he managed to get through the crisis and learned the importance of daring to ask for help.
鈥� That鈥檚 something I鈥檝e benefitted from throughout my life. Stop hitting the wall, ask for help. Getting stuck doesn鈥檛 solve anything. And no one gets through all their courses alone. Well, maybe a few do, but most of us need someone to study with. Without my friends, I鈥檇 never have made it through.
No homework, just life lessons
According to Bj枚rn, the most important skill when entering the job market is knowing how to approach something completely new and actively seeking out the knowledge you need. His student engagement taught him valuable lessons about project work, collaboration, and seeing things through, whether that meant organising Nolle-P, putting on a party at K氓rallen, or helping to establish what later became the grand Kalas welcome event.
鈥� I once had a junior colleague ask me: 鈥楽hould I be getting some homework now?鈥� But in working life, there is no homework. You鈥檙e expected to figure out for yourself what you need to know. Student life is the perfect training ground for that. Make mistakes. Play. Experiment. It鈥檚 far better to make mistakes as a student than in the workplace.
He also stresses that the joy and recognition afterwards is what makes it all worthwhile.
鈥� That pat on the back, that 鈥榃ell done!鈥�, that feeling is like a little kick. Experiences like that don鈥檛 just teach practical skills, they build confidence and motivation. That鈥檚 the most important lesson of all.
Just start - switch later
Bj枚rn already had work experience, juggling five jobs while studying, but he stumbled into his role as a system tester by chance.
鈥� I hadn鈥檛 even heard of the job before. I was supposed to be a fund manager in Luxembourg!
His advice to students who feel uncertain about their future is straightforward:
鈥� Just start somewhere. You can always switch paths. Try something, and if you don鈥檛 like it, change. If you do like it, keep going.
Link枚ping offers plenty of opportunities, especially in IT, but he also urges students to take risks and move out of their comfort zone, just as he did when moving to Stockholm.
Grow through student engagement
Even today, Bj枚rn, still known as 鈥淔r枚ken Bj枚rn鈥�, keeps an eye out for student engagement when reading CVs or sitting in on interviews.
鈥� It鈥檚 automatically a plus. These students have pushed themselves, maybe missed a bit of sleep or food. It shows they鈥檝e got experience beyond the books and can take responsibility.
That鈥檚 why he encourages every student to get involved in activities and associations:
鈥� Apply for everything! You grow so much through engagement.
He also emphasises the importance of learning to handle rejection, both in job applications and in life after graduation. And, he adds, the more students who apply, the better the overall standard becomes:
鈥� The more applicants, the higher the quality of those selected. That creates a sense of responsibility. If you鈥檝e been chosen ahead of others who also wanted the role, you feel you have to do a really good job. That鈥檚 what drives both individuals and student life forward.
A returnee who cannot stay away
Although Bj枚rn is now well established in working life, he regularly returns to Link枚ping University to contribute to student life. Among other things, he has served as master of ceremonies for the Student Orchestra Festival (SOF) parade, and he takes part in LinCon, the university鈥檚 large annual gaming convention organised by the student gaming society Dragon鈥檚 Den.
During our interview, several people come up to greet him. Even after all these years, he is still recognised on campus. It is clear that his engagement has left a lasting mark on LiU and that LiU has left an equally strong mark on him.