Introducing: Ask Helga

Hello, Vikings. 

My name is Helga, and I’m proud to introduce myself as the writer of The Augustana Mirror’s newest advice column. I’ve been attending Augie for quite some time (the exact number of years shall remain my little secret), so I believe I am more than qualified to give advice on any topic of any nature. 

Being a Viking myself, I offer a perspective that fits perfectly with our school’s heritage and namesake. I’ve sailed the North Sea, eaten my weight in lutefisk, and I keep my helmet spotless at all times. Most importantly, I’ve survived many years of college.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about friendship, school, romance, homesickness and the many questionable decisions that are bound to happen when hundreds of Vikings are living in close quarters. Whether you’re facing a crisis on par with a sinking ship or wondering if you should text your crush, I’m here to help. 

I’m excited to get to know the Augustana community in a brand new way– through your personal dilemmas and difficult situations, and perhaps some decisions you’d rather your folks don’t find out about. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon! 

Love, Helga

Dear Helga, 

I just got to college and I feel like the friendships I’ve had throughout high school are drifting apart. We’ve been friends forever. Is it worth trying to stay in touch or should I just move on? 

Dearest Viking, 

You’ve arrived on new shores and you feel like your relationships are buckling against the waves instead of riding smoothly across them. 

This reminds me of the time I decided to leave my village by the fjord to come to Augustana University. I experienced so many new things at Augustana like the Elmen Extravaganza, Olepalooza and my first live hockey game (it’s nothing like the ice on the fjord by the way). 

My classes and new friends were great, and I quickly joined many activities on campus. However, I realized my letters to friends back home became few and far between. I was walking Ace the Augie Doggie and hammocking with the hammock club so much on top of my school work that it kept slipping my mind to pull out my authentic Nordic stationary. 

I was a nervous wreck in the Delta Sky Lounge after completing my freshman year, and not just because I have crippling flight anxiety. I was worried that my friends in the village would resent me for neglecting to write home.

Instead, when I met up with my best friends Olga, Lena and Klara, we simply had more to talk about. It was as if no time had passed. Turns out, my friends had their own fun adventures too and were eager to share stories. 

Helga’s advice? Live in the moment, send a message when it feels right and look forward to your epic reunion.

Love, Helga

Dear Helga, 

I joined a club completely outside of my interests because I have a crush on a girl in the group. I just found out that she’s had a boyfriend this entire time, and now I’m up for a leadership position in the club. 

Dearest Viking,

You have sailed into some mighty dangerous waters.

First, let’s address the heartache. Discovering your crush has a boyfriend is hard enough without the threat of leadership in a club you’re not interested in. That’s a whole new layer of difficulty. 

I understand you. I too have made mistakes in matters of the heart. Some involved a Viking from the fjord named Ole — but that’s a story for another day. 

Heartache is something you can get through in time, but now you have an important decision to make about your role in this organization. Should you accept a leadership position in a club you joined because of a girl you hardly know? 

Helga’s initial answer is absolutely not. 

Leadership is a responsibility that no Viking should take lightly. Others will depend on you to be a guiding light, leading your group through trials come hell or high water. Additionally, you can’t possibly be a dedicated leader if you spend each meeting wondering if this girl is hitting a rough patch in her relationship.

However, sometimes our strangest journeys lead us to places we never expected to reach and sometimes it’s for the better. Heck, I wouldn’t even be at Augustana if it weren’t for Ole. 

Helga’s advice? Let the girl sail away with her beloved, but stay in the club if there are reasons to believe you’ve found a good adventure. 

Love, Helga