If you want to grow as a person, learn more about yourself, stand on your own two feet, and go on an adventure, exchange might be just the thing for you.
I spent the summer (end of May to August) in Helsinki, Finland in the Information Technology Program, learning about Information Service and Business, while analyzing a project for a Finnish public company. Each month comprised a different course – I studied Managing Software in Service Business, Achieving Advantage through Distributed Technologies, and Current Topics in Information and Service Business. We had three hours of thought-provoking lecture a day – which might seem like a lot but three hours goes by quickly when you’re in a spirited in-class discussion about Big Data, for example.
Case competitors, you might want to consider this program. To me, it was like working on a semester-long business case. I’m under a Non-Disclosure Agreement – to give you a barebones idea of the project though, my company was considering developing a new service, and my four-person team and I drafted and submitted an entrance strategy with profitability forecasts. That might sound intimidating, but every single person brings something to the team and you’ll be able to show your strengths. You lean on each other and learn from each other.
Let’s talk about life in Helsinki! Living alone wasn’t lonely, surprisingly. I lived with two suitemates in a student housing condo, and we became like sisters. Rent was €215 a month, likely because I was twenty minutes away from Helsinki city centre. Helsinki’s transportation system is extensive and fantastic – you can track city buses via a website called Reittiopas or “Journey Planner,” and cell data is surprisingly cheap (I paid €6.90 a month for unlimited data. Granted, it was only 0.25M/s but still!).
Finns like summer, and will enjoy every hour of sun (and since it’s up north, you get 19 hours of sunlight.) You’ll find everyone on the beach and the nearby islands. Most of Helsinki’s events are shared through Facebook, and almost everything happens in the city centre or on the islands. Never a dull moment!
I managed to take weekend trips to Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Tallinn. Stockholm and Tallinn have ferry service from Helsinki – I actually went to Tallinn with my school. The program was rigorous, so we had a one-week holiday in July, which I took to go to Turkey. Travelling alone was amazing – I had to rely on myself, but friendly locals were always around.
A few final thoughts: I think we all go on exchange looking for adventure and new experiences. We think we have our own unique skillset that will help us take on school and new challenges. Exchange builds self-confidence by reinforcing the skills you have, and it puts you in touch with people who can share their own stories with you and teach you new skills. Your experiences will become proof that you are capable and independent, and you have a story to tell when you get home.
Olivia went to Helsinki in the Summer 2015 semester in her 3rd year. She wanted to study how improving information systems could lead to social sustainability. Her intended concentration is in Operations Management with the Certificate in Social and Environmental Sustainability. As of Fall 2014, Olivia is a Sustainability Peer Educator – email her at ohui@sfu.ca if you have any questions!