Last updated: 12.02.2008
School & Work
I study computer engineering in Arcada Polytechnic since September 2003. In other words, I will become an Engineer of Information Technology. At the moment, however, I'm in exchange at a host school in Kwantlen University College, Vancouver, Canada. My estimated time of graduation is June 2008. My studies consist of computer architecture, software programming, database handling and network administration. I've taken electives in sociology, linguistics and German.
My experience in computers dates back to 1990, when I first started drawing cars and trees using asterisks(*) on a UNIX system. During the next six years I frequently went to work with my dad during weekends to play games on the office computers. In -96 I got one of my own, and that's when I really got interested in computers. I spent the first few years just playing games, though, and learned miscellaneous stuff on the side.
Towards high school I started to experiment with programming. I was fond of computer role-playing games and tried to make one myself many times. I never put enough time into it to become adept at any programming language, but I learned some BASIC.
Around the age of 15 I started working summers at my dad's company as technical support and updating computer software. I became more familiar with Windows and Local Area Networks. In the summer of 2004 I first worked full-time in the IT department for three months, helping to install new computers and maintain old ones. I also contributed to installing a new Windows on the company servers, and switching to Active Directory. In the summer of 2006 I did my practical term there, mapping their LAN and WAN, and making an Asset Register of their hardware and software.
At 18 I went to the United States in exchange through Youth for Understanding. I went to high school in El Paso, Texas, for one year. I graduated with honors, and improved my English a lot in the process. I lived with a host family for the entire year, and got acquainted with the American culture through it. At 21, I went to Germany in exchange and took a few courses there while learning German. Two years later I went to Canada for another exchange term. There I took an interest in linguistics and sociology, while continuing my IT program.
Education History
Degree of education |
Time attended |
School attended |
| Elementary school | 1990-1996 | Lagstads skola, Espoo |
| Junior High | 1996-1999 | Sökövikens högstadium, Espoo |
| Secondary education | 1999-2003* | Mattlidens gymnasium, Espoo |
| Exchange year in the United States | 2001-2002 | Eastwood High School, El Paso, Texas |
| Post-secondary / Vocational education | 2003-2008 | Arcada Polytechnic, Espoo |
| Exchange semester in Germany | Fall of 2004 | Fachhochschule Furtwangen, Furtwangen, Germany |
| Exchange semester in Canada | Fall of 2006 | Kwantlen University College, Vancouver, Canada |
| *The Finnish secondary education is normally three years but mine lasted four because of the exchange year. | ||
Work History
Employer |
Time employed |
Occupation/Assignments |
| Oy Kaha Ab | Summers of 1998-2007 | Technical support, computer maintenance, warehouse packing & shipping. Two longer work periods during which I did more demanding IT work. Also did my practical term here, mapping networks and hardware into an Asset Register. |
| Expert ASA Oy | 2005-2008 | Consumer electronics sales clerk. This job requires extensive knowledge of every aspect of entertainment electronics as well as keeping on top of current events and new products. However, I specialize in computers. |