Final-year student Ella from Viherlaakson lukio: "Choose what you focus on during your studies"

Ella Jääskeläinen is a final-year student at the Viherlaakson lukio upper secondary school. She has enjoyed her school time at Viherlaakso, where the lessons are great and she has made a lot of new friends. Ella has learned to be more relaxed about school than at the beginning of her studies.

Ella Jääskeläinen is studying her final year at the Viherlaakson lukio upper secondary school. Viheri was not her first choice after comprehensive school, but she is now very happy with her decision: "I don't think I would have been this happy anywhere else."

For Ella, the best part of upper secondary school is her friends. Ella has a group of over 10 friends who she did not know before coming to Viherlaakso. “I found new friends on the second day of upper secondary school. One of my friends was in the same class in lower secondary school, but we only got to know each other at Viherlaakso,” Ella says. Ella’s friends come from different parts of Espoo and elsewhere – even from Kirkkonummi.

At Viherlaakson lukio, students are happy to go to class because the teachers are nice. Ella’s favourite subject is history, and it is taught by her favourite teacher, Perttu Ojanperä. Ella has been interested in history since comprehensive school. Her dream job is to be a history teacher in an upper secondary school or to work as a researcher. In fact, Ella is planning to apply to a university and study history after upper secondary school. Ella is not interested in the status of her future university but believes that all of them offer high-quality education.

Ella’s history teacher Perttu is the reason why Ella is also a member of the student union board. "Perttu led the student union and suggested I should apply because I am so active,” Ella says.

It is a publicly discussed topic that upper secondary school studies are very demanding, but Ella feels that the amount of stress you feel depends on your own study choices and focus areas. For example, languages are easy for Ella, whereas mathematics requires more work. At present, she is studying the basic course in mathematics – she jumped out of the advanced course when they encountered geometry.

Ella speaks fondly of Viherlaakson lukio and says that there is no pressure between students, no competition and no comparing grades. It is important to control your stress level, which Ella had to learn the hard way. “I am a goal-oriented person who wanted specific grades for certain courses. I had very high expectations. I was extremely hard on myself, and I almost burned myself out. I was so stressed about my studies,” Ella says. Ella decided to seek help, and now she has a more relaxed approach to school. Ella applies that same easy-going attitude to her hobby: she has played squash for more than six years but has no interest in competing.

Ella’s advice is to take it easier in the first year, so that you will have energy left even for the second and third years. “It is advisable to focus on the subjects you intend to take in the matriculation examination and spend less energy on all others,” Ella says. According to Ella, her determination to learn things properly is both a curse and a gift. However, knowledge and competence always make her feel good about herself.

Ella urges ninth-graders to think about what they are interested in and explore different options. It may be difficult, but Ella encourages them to imagine themselves 10 years from now: “If you can’t decide between upper secondary school and vocational education, think about what you want from your future. If you are still unsure, upper secondary school gives you time to weigh out your options. A vocational institution is a good choice if you already know what you want to do in the future,” Ella advises.

In Ella’s opinion, ninth-graders should learn to ignore their parents and make their own decisions: "Remember that no matter which field you choose, people will need you – all industries are important." Ella also points out that there is no specific upper secondary school that you simply must get into: "The average grades of upper secondary schools do not necessarily reveal anything about the school. All general upper secondary schools have the same matriculation examinations, and everyone has the same opportunities in the exams.”