One year…

Which comes first – courage or trust? -Trust. But for me, I think, it started with courage.

And I begin to ask myself: “How much trust must I have had in myself to say that I can leave my community, move to a country I had never been in, and choose an apartment by only exploring the neighbourhoods on Google Maps and Reddit, and TRUST that I will get through all of the struggles alone. And people that know me, already know – when I say “get through” I don’t mean just “pass”. I mean, by making my mark. To make an impact, to matter and to prove myself once again that I am capable of facing new challenges.

And I can just say “WOW”. The powers we have. Powers, that we are not aware of… are incredible.

I was definitely not aware of how much strength I have (and I have been challenging myself a lot during my teen years :D).

..and also, to my surprise, I have NEVER regretted my decision to move to Finland. To not go further with having more “tickets” for studying options in Nordic countries but to choose only one (Finland – Proakatemia) when my gut said that this is what I need to do. Not Aarhus University, not Linnaeus University, not Jönköping University.. not Riga Business School… only one ticket – to Proakatemia. I have gone through the application process only once.

On 9.03.2022, I received: “Congratulations! You have been admitted to the Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Team Leadership”. On 13.03.2022 at 11:40 PM, I received: “We have received March 13, 2022, 11:40 PM your answer: I accept this offer of admission – Tampere University of Applied Sciences, TAMK Proakatemia – Bachelor of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Team Leadership.” /four days later…/

I had made a decision about the next chapter of my life during the night while struggling to fall asleep by repeatedly asking myself the same question: “Why I can’t seem to apply to Aarhus University, which was my dream for the last 3 years?”. Then it clicked – I need to accept the place. After I had selected “I accept” and read the notification that I won’t be able to change my mind, first, my face went pale “What had I done? – There was no chance of going back now!” Then I smiled. THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF GOING BACK! And I fell asleep at peace right away.

So now – my first study year has passed. 2.5 years to go.  

Let’s see how it went so far… 

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“[transcribed from my voice memory while going to Koskikeskus to celebrate Tappara victory in a bus full of Tappara fans at 21.50]

This is it – a year of studies has passed. I started tracking my learning journey in the past semester by making voice memos while walking from Proakatemia to my apartment and vice versa, so now I am doing the same. Now reflecting that a year has passed, it has been fun. Fun – but not “fun” in a “fun way”. A roller-coaster of emotions and overall, – a ride. A wild, wild ride. And again, it has been fun because there have been so many ups and downs. Definitely more than I expected from one degree.

I made so many beautiful friendships, got to know so many cultures… cultures from countries that before were just some names on the maps, and now – I am familiar with them by learning more about the country, its economics, culture, history… and traditions. The beauty and the environment. It is not a myth – in Proakatemia, we make SO MANY NETWORKS.

Sharing the love for one’s country with the internationals. Participating in so many projects. More projects than I would have ever imagined doing in the first year of my studies. And participating in projects which I would have never imagined taking part of (for example, winter-summer tire change). Becoming a Tappara fan, and starting to call Finland my place of residence… 

This degree has already thought me so much about myself. Now, I never want to underestimate my powers (and again, I am aware of my imperfections). But I think there is a certain beauty in people who even though know each other’s imperfections can come together and make something beautiful.

In the first semester, I was pushed back. I got a reality check because 1) I thought I knew how to communicate (false); 2) I thought I know how to lead (false); 3) I thought I had gained so much experience in the leading roles before coming to Proakatemia that I will feel like in my waters and just continue to gain new skills (.. partly false?), 4) I thought leading people who know the struggle of leadership will be easier than others (FALSE).

Here I learned the diamond dialogue principle and the suspending part, how to actively ask/give/get feedback even if it is hard. In fact, I learned that not every piece of feedback also needs to be heard. 😀 I quickly understood that I will not be standing out in Proakatemia because now I was in a community which had 300 people just like me and even better. And I have learned so much from these people… and still, I continue to be inspired by their achievements every single day. I always feel like I am just trying to reach their level, but then again everyone here has so many different strengths and only very few weaknesses that in a balanced team are not so visible because “one man’s weakness is another one’s strength”.

I have learned so much, but I have so much more to learn. I don’t call myself an entrepreneur yet. I am a teampreneur.  

This year I have:

• been a part of the product development team in IRT (international relations team);
• been the leader of Sales Days for my team;
• helped in organizing 2 Projektori;
• made a culture event with my team for the community;
• developed a love-hate relationship towards essays;
• sold my clothes together with other teammates to get capital for our company;
• made cookies for the local Indian community (to get capital for our company);
• changed winter tires (to get capital for our company);
• worked in a stock clerk job (to get capital for our company);

+ I am one of 16 co-founders of Crevio Osk. 

..and I think there is definitely more that I have done that I forgot to put on this list… 

On a personal note, I learned what it is like to live alone, what is “university life”, how hard it is to find a job, and the struggles of living abroad.

I am definitely grateful for this year, and that I am here. I am grateful for my team, for this opportunity, for my coaches, for the beautiful people around me, for my family, and for my friends here and back home… I would not be the same without them.”

Crevio Osk, we came from various backgrounds and chose to become A TEAM. For a beautiful journey together. Kippis!