By Brad Heath
Mannford High School’s Nora Johansen is enjoying her senior year as an exchange student from Norway. Johansen said this is her first year doing cheer.
“I started doing cheer this year. The girls are amazing, and it’s a sport where you can enjoy several different activities at once,” Johansen said. “We often make decisions as a group and discuss routine changes together.”
Cheer is her focus for the fall semester, but this spring Johansen plans to join another team at MHS.
“For fall and winter, cheer is in my focus. However, I’m going to play soccer for the next semester which I’m very much looking forward to,” said Johansen.
As for the cheer squad, Johansen said she loves being around the team and the bond she shares with her teammates.
“They don’t point you out when you do something wrong. We work together as a team, and we are all friends. The girls in cheer are people I truly appreciate. They were the first teenagers I met here, and they embraced me with open arms from day one,” said Johansen.
Johansen said MHS has been a great place for her, and she is grateful to have a faculty that supports all their students.
“Mannford is a great place for athletes because the school and the coaches spends time on us as individuals and care about our success,” said Johansen.
When she has some free time, you can usually find the senior going for walks, listening to music, and spending time with her new brothers, and little sister.
“I like to spend time with them as well. My host family has lots of animals and I enjoying playing with them,” said Johansen.
As an exchange student, Johansen said the experience is off to a great start.
“I’ve had a really good start, people are nice and welcoming, and very helpful and understanding. I’m learning a lot and enjoy trying all the new things America has to offer.”
Her future plans include returning to Norway where she wants to join the military, but for now she is having fun in Mannford and phoning home to tell her friends about Oklahoma.
“I don’t really have anything settled yet, but I do want to join the military in Norway and then hopefully become a police officer,” Johansen said. “I often tell them [friends in Norway] about the free refills.”
