We had a small and close circle of friends, with which we had fun and worked quickly through our studies. I completed my Master’s in just four years. I didn’t take a student loan because I was working part-time through my studies. I had a lot of energy in my youth. I also participated in the student and subject organisations, but mainly in the parties.

For me, academic freedom was the motivation to study and later to begin a career in research. I remember the agony of upper secondary school, where the hours dragged on. At the university, the freedom to choose my own studies suited me perfectly. You could take book exams, attend lectures and do things at your own pace. Academic freedom encouraged me to study and write a dissertation on a topic which did not necessarily guarantee a future career of any kind. Freedom lit the spark in me to read, research and write.

People of course have differences so academic freedom is not perfect for everyone. There are a lot of people for whom the course model of studying works better. However, I like the central value in Finland’s humanist society in which we have the opportunity to pursue academic freedom and broad studies.