Annika Purola

Hello everyone!

I’m Annika and I’m applying to be a Host/Hostess for the 2026 Board of Prosessiteekkarit. I’m a fourth-year student and I just started my master’s studies in Bioproducts Engineering. I’m applying for the Board because I believe I have much to give to this community which has already given me so much.

I’m a sunny and responsible person who likes to do things with a casual touch. As a Host/Hostess I would be reliable and accommodating partner. This position has many responsibilities from budgeting to cooking and officials’ refreshments to board meetings, and I think it’s great that they can be divided with another person based on skills, for example. Good communication and trust in your partner are the most important qualities in successful co-operation without forgetting having fun.

I have always enjoyed voluntary work. I have been a Host/Hostess helper for two years which has given me the best impression of the work and more importantly has ignited a fire for this. I have also been a Wappumaster in 2025 and been a kitchen responsible in Kavitaatio during my first year. These gave me a lot of confidence especially in planning. I have other experience outside of university from bigger events as well and I’m familiar with taking responsibility.

I would like to uphold PT’s great event culture during my year on the Board but also create something new for both old and new people to enjoy. The best thing about organizing events is the smiles that successful events create on both participants and organizers.

You can ask questions below!

1.     In general, how do you see the event selection of our association? What kind of events would you like to organize?

I think PT’s event selection is already extensive. The great thing about Otaniemi is that there’s events for everyone. PT’s events focus mainly on traditional sitsis, and I don’t want to give them up either. The most important thing would be to create sitsis that people want to come to regardless of their background. The number of more casual events has increased in recent years, but there could be more of them. Cooperation with other guilds and associations in these could increase the attractiveness of the events. For example, low-threshold events related to cooking or baking interest me and I would be ready to organize them. Easy events aimed at older students could also be organized, so that they can still dig out their overalls from the closet.

2.     How would you take international students into account at events? 

Currently, most of the events are almost entirely in Finnish. International students are easily left out of PT’s own events because of this. It would be important for me to talk to the International and Master’s Captain and the international students to find out what they would specifically want from us in terms of events. I don’t see it impossible to organize events in English for them (and others), but I also understand the importance of student culture and terminology in Finnish. Perhaps the most important thing would be to get international students excited about the events and to understand Finnish student culture more. One concrete way would be for example, to increase song leading in English and advertise sitsis more suitable for international students as well. Here, cooperation with other guilds could also bring students together more.

3.     Being IE is teamwork. What kind of partner would you like for yourself and what kind of partner would you be? How would you maintain a good atmosphere and working habits with your partner? 

I would like a partner who I can trust in all matters, and who can discuss even difficult matters openly. You don’t have to agree on everything, and open discussion brings out creativity, but I would also like flexibility in this regard. I would like a partner whose personality balances mine. In the most important matters, I would like us to find clear goals and then together find ways to achieve them.

As a partner, I would be open and reliable. I usually do things calmly, even amid a rush. I really like clear planning, and as a partner, I could use my organizing skills to work toward this.

Having fun and relaxed atmosphere in the midst of all the chaos and stress are really good ways to maintain good dynamics. I could bring just the right amount of calm to the work and therefore avoid additional stress. Open discussion and flexibility also promote good dynamics. The fact that working is enjoyable is very important in volunteer work.

4.     Helpers of IE are IE’s most important help in organising events. What kind of helper team would you like to form and how would you ensure that they form a close-knit team? 

During my two years as a Helper of IE, I have seen different groups, and fortunately I have formed an idea of ​​what a good group is regarding this. It is important to me that there is an appropriate number of Helpers of IE so that everyone can participate, but you don’t have to come to every event. I would also like the Helpers to have their voices heard, which I think has been achieved well in my time. Again, trust and open discussion on both sides are very important, but I have no doubt that they can be achieved.

In my opinion, the most important thing in ensuring a close-knit group is joint events, for example, refreshments, and varying the composition of the groups in shifts. Based on my own experience, the fastest and most fun way to achieve a good group occurs when you spend six hours together baking. Working together, having open discussions, and having fun are the key to forming a close-knit group.