Teaching is in my bones, so the best thing about the University is the range of stylish and beautiful events which involve enthusiastic young students. These young hopefuls show no lack of energy when they work together, learning from each other. The student ‘nations’, especially my own assocation, Eteläsuomalainen osakunta, the history students' organisation Kronos ry, and the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, as well as the National Union of University Students in Finland are all important organisations for me.

And it gives me a sense of great satisfaction whenever one of my seminar students completes his or her thesis. The day culminates in a celebration which is a touching event: the joy of generating new knowledge and the fruits of the thesis defence, as well as the happy conclusion to years of work. My best memories from the university have to do with the congregations where degrees are conferred by the Faculty of Philosophy ( notably in 1982, 1990 and 1994, when I have had either the role of inaugural master or doctor, or ‘officiant’) as well as the moment when the Mika Waltari memorial, erected at the initiative of the student nation, was finally unveiled in front of the restaurant Elite in 2005.