Rickard Bidevall

I grew up in Torslanda, a quiet suburb on the edge of Göteborg. Life moved at a steady pace, high school at Polhem, weekends with friends, and the slow but certain realization that adulthood had somehow arrived. When high school ended, I had no grand plan, no roadmap. But when my friends started talking about a ski season in the Alps, the fear of missing out kicked in – hard. The only catch? I had never skied a day in my life.

So I got to work, literally. I picked up shifts at XXL, saved every krona I could, and joined my friends on their way to St. Anton. In two whirlwind weeks, I learned to ski well enough to keep up. When my budget inevitably ran dry, I picked up a job at the local bar ”Fredl’s Stadl”. Not only did it keep me afloat, but I also managed to earn the title of the best “draft technician” in St. Anton. Not bad for a rookie skier turned bartender.

The next season, we planned better and headed to Verbier. This time I could focus on carving cleaner turns and taking in the mountains, with a few obligatory après-ski sessions to round things off. But when talks of yet another ski season came up, something inside me hesitated. I’ve never been one to repeat the same thing over and over. I thrive in projects, short bursts of focus, challenge, and growth – until it’s time to move on. So I did.

I wanted a new adventure, something outside my comfort zone. Surfing had always fascinated me, and while most people would’ve headed to Portugal, I chose the road less traveled: Nicaragua. I wanted more than waves – I wanted culture, challenge, and something raw. For two months I lived by the beach, learning how to surf, how to fall, and how to get back up again.

When I returned to Sweden, I felt ready to begin a new chapter. The bucket list had a few checks, and my perspective had expanded. I knew one thing for sure; I wanted to study somewhere outside Göteborg. I had grown into someone who could stand on his own, and moving out felt like the next step. Lund caught my eye. It had the academic reputation I wanted and a buzzing student life that promised something more than just lectures.

At the time this is being written, three years has passed and I'm approaching the end of my time in Lund. Looking back, my stay has been rewarding. Making new friends, receiving a top-notch education, and learning to live independently in a new city are experiences I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Despite this, I can’t shake the feeling that I haven’t fully embraced everything this chapter could offer. Lund is a great place, but Göteborg is where I was raised, it’s my home, and where I truly belong. I can only hope that I get the chance to return home and pursue my dream education program, Matix!

Ever since I started my bachelor's studies, my goal has remained the same; to return to Göteborg and deepen my leadership skills through your program. Over time, my dream has evolved, especially as I'm majoring in Organization and Management. The more I’ve learned, the more I’ve realized how much I want to challenge myself further – beyond the classroom and textbooks. I want to test my knowledge in real-world scenarios, where every decision has tangible consequences. Solving cases in theory is fun, but the stakes are different when you’re working in real business environments. That’s the kind of challenge I’m eager to take on, and I’m confident that Matix is the right place for me to start doing so.