I graduated from the Porvoo Commercial College, the Qualification in Business and Administration programme in spring 2009.
First I found the studies in Finland very different from the studies that I was used to in Russia. We were using a lot of computers and the exams were very different. Studying was also fun, because the group was so international.
The best learning experiences were definitely group projects. At the same time when we studied theoretically about business we learned a lot about different cultures and people as well as yourself. I improved my English a lot. And it was a starting point to my Finnish language studies, too.
After graduating from the College I continued to study Finnish language full time and after a year I applied to Haaga-Helia Polytechnic to continue my business studies in the Finnish programme and got in. After three years in Finland the Finnish language is still difficult for me. I can follow teachers in the lessons, but I am still a bit afraid to speak myself. Luckily I have a foreign friend who does not speak any Russian nor English, so we are both forced to use Finnish language when communicating together. Now living in Finland feels much safer, because I can understand what people are talking around me.
I am planning to focus in my studies to business administration and perhaps work in the future in banking and investments. On the other hand I can also see myself organizing international projects and communicating with people all around the world.
A study place in the Porvoo Commercial College is surely an opportunity, but it does not give you necessary a key to golden success. You have to be prepared to work hard, study the Finnish language and then build your own carrier path.