I can vividly recall when I began my studies at the Faculty of Arts. There were over 700 new students attending some kind of an orientation session in the Great Hall of the Main Building. It was a unique and thrilling experience to sit there.

On the other hand, I felt a bit lost during my first years at the University, even though I had been admitted to study my preferred subject on the first attempt. I found the transition from senior secondary school to university difficult and I had no clear career plan. I took several years off from my studies and worked on various jobs. At the beginning of my studies, however, I was an active member of the Finnish Language students' organisation Siula and worked as the editor-in-chief of the organisation's magazine. Then, at some point, I received an invitation to the student organisation's annual celebration at the Vanha Ylioppilastalo (the old student’s meeting hall). I had already spent some time away from the university and my fellow students, but decided to take part in the event anyway. As I listened to the speeches and saw my old friends, I got a strong feeling that, hey, these people are like me and we belong to the same community. That experience was a big reason for me returning to the university to continue my studies.

The third most striking thing I remember has to do with getting a permanent job at the university in 2010 and receiving an invitation to the ‘Welcome to the University’ induction event. For the first time I felt like I was properly welcome to be a part of the University of Helsinki. Before that I felt like I was somehow on the margins of the university community either as a student or a temporary worker.