Guest column: Embracing the unkown never felt so good

Hello BBA community!

I am Emília Holányi, a 22-year-old student from Budapest, Hungary. Over two years ago, I made a bold decision to move to Tampere to pursue a BBA degree in international business. Although I knew Finland was known for its high quality of life and education, the move was still a leap into the unknown, because I had never visited the country before and did not know anyone. Now, after spending two years here, I can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Choosing what to study had always been a struggle for me. I can be quite indecisive and growing up I never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do in my future. My mum helped me realize that learning economics and business can give a better understanding on how the world works around me and it would only benefit me in the long run, even if I wanted to change my paths later in life. This is why back in Hungary, I attended a high school that specialized in economics. There I realized that this path is the one for me, so I decided to study business in a higher education setting. Now I am in my third year studying international business in Tampere University of Applied Sciences specializing in marketing as well as innovation management and business development which are fields I genuinely enjoy and hope to continue pursuing in the future. With this decision, I also became a part of the BBA community.

To me being a BBA student means having the opportunity to learn and pursue many career paths at the same time. It also means being surrounded by people who share a similar mindset and determination. The BBA community is a diverse group from which I can learn from and grow, both professionally and personally.

I am deeply grateful for the BBA community. I have made so many friendships that I know will last. I got the opportunity to be a degree tutor in the second year of my studies where I also met many open-minded and loving people who showed their appreciation towards me by nominating me to be chosen as the BBA student of the year 2023. I am grateful and feel honoured to have received that title back in December. This community made me be more open-minded as well and motivated me to be more active and encouraged me to make the most of my free time. It made me feel seen and supported and helped me understand topics without judgement. The support and encouragement made me feel like I can achieve anything, if I put in the needed effort.

While women in business are often overlooked and not taken seriously in many parts of the world and various fields of work, I have not felt this way within the Finnish BBA community. I feel equal and as a valued member. I also like how widespread the community is and how well it has been built up. Having the chance to meet so many people from all parts of the world has helped me view the world more positively and it only made me want to travel and learn about different cultures much more, to truly understand others. The BBA community is also who, among other things, gave me opportunities to better my career and to share my story and thoughts with you.

As an international student one of my highest priorities has always been inclusivity. I strive to make people around me feel heard, seen and represented, and I feel like this community is on a great path to achieving total inclusivity and equality. Personally, the only improvement I think this community needs is more international representation. Apart from me, there are many people who would love to join as organizing and working members of the community, but due to the language barrier it makes it quite hard to do so. Foreigners can also provide a useful and fresh perspective that can better the community in many ways. Nonetheless I am pleased to see improvements and efforts already being made, and progress will come in time.

If you are a new student and you are reading this, trust me you are in good hands. These couple of years will go by fast while you are working on your degree, so do not forget to enjoy the process while it lasts. Take full advantage of your student privileges and rights by going to events, attending seminars, participating in competitions and projects etc. because there are many great opportunities you have in getting experience and building you career. Business is all about making connections, so do not be afraid to put yourself out there. Even if it feels scary, you will thank yourself later for doing so.

All in all, I am proud to be a BBA student and part of this great community, and I hope you are too!