Emma Nurmela

Hello and hellät tunteet! After a long and careful consideration, I have decided to apply for the position of Fuksi Captain for the upcoming board of Prosessiteekkarit. I am a second-year student majoring in Chemistry and Materials Science. I’ve been actively involved in guild activities since my fuksi year, and this year I hustled as a vastuuISO for an amazing group of fuksis. My previous committee roles in the abi-team as well as tutoring this autumn confirmed my interest in joining the board. As they say, the more you get the more you want, and I feel that the demanding yet rewarding role of Fuksi Captain would be a perfect fit for me.

As a Fuksi Captain, I would be warm and approachable, yet productive. I believe that a good attitude and a sense of humor take you surprisingly far, but I also recognize that this role requires a high tolerance for stress, strong time management skills, and the ability to communicate and work seamlessly with others. Watching previous Fuksi Captains in action, I’ve noticed just how many working hours go into this position, including a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ work. Time can certainly be tight at times. Nevertheless, I am confident that with proper scheduling and fitting daily routines, I will navigate even through the busiest weeks together with my co-captain.

I believe I am the right choice for this role of Fuksi Captain because I want to cherish Otaniemi’s long-standing Teekkari culture and further advance the already high-quality fuksi education of Prosessiteekkarit. It is also important to me that the fuksis feel welcomed to this study-program and our beloved guild. I would like to continue the legacy of previous Fuksi Captains whilst also adding my own twists to the year along with my co-captain. As a Fuksi Captain, I intend to ensure that every fuksi finds Otaniemi to be a safe and encouraging environment where diversity is appreciated rather than shunned. Many people have high expectations for orientation week and their fuksi year, and I want to contribute my efforts to ensure they build memories that will last a lifetime.

Emma

If you were Fuksi Captain, what would be your goal for the next 1.5 years?

Just like Stubb, I also have three points regarding the next 1.5 years. The most important of them all, is to organize and execute an unforgettable fuksi year for the new students, one that they will remember even on their deathbed. My goal, together with my partner, is to organize ultimately fun events as well as relaxed hangouts and spend time getting to know the fuksis. So to speak, anything as much as imagination and time allow. I also want to succeed in creating strong and lasting foundations for the fuksis for their student life in Otaniemi, so that when our paths as Fuksi Captain and fuksi eventually separate, they will be able to continue the journey on their own and potentially pass on what they’ve learned. That’s what fuksi education is in a nutshell. During my term, I hope to ensure that every freshman finds a safe environment tailored to them, where studying flows smoothly for at least the next 5 years, and to do my best to support those who face challenges in finding their own group.

My second goal is to bond well with my co-Fuksi Captain and build a supportive and motivating relationship over the next 1.5 years. This position truly requires teamwork and partnership, so my goal is specifically to get to know my partner so well that we can have each other’s backs in any given situation. Through my partner, I also want to learn a lot of new things and bounce ideas back and forth in a versatile way. Two heads are always better than one. Besides my partner, my goal is to gather a rock-solid team including the BIG Responsible, the International and Masters Captain, the ChemEng Officer, and all the BIGs, with whom we will set out to shape the fuksi education for the new students.

As the cherry on top, I also hope to grow personally as a board member of Prosessiteekkarit and as a person during my term. As a Fuksi Captain, I will get to learn a lot of new things about the board’s operations, Prosessiteekkarit as a guild, and the other people who keep this entire operation running. My goal is to bring my own motivated effort, bad sense of humor, and a helping hand whenever needed to the PT board

Students who do not feel that they belong to a community or have friendships with their fellow students at the beginning of their studies often lag behind in their studies. How do you manage to integrate all fuksis into a community or help them to find their own group of friends?

Of course, no one can be forced to participate in events and activities if they simply don’t feel like it. Still, through my own effort, I want to ensure that every fuksi has an equal opportunity to build friendships and gain meaningful experiences during their fuksi year. As a Fuksi Captain, I strive to be approachable and gentle, making the threshold to come and talk to me about these kinds of challenges as low as possible.

Now to the matter at hand, I feel that the best solution to this problem is approachable, alcohol-free events. For some students, livelier events with afterparties can feel uncomfortable, and usually they’d like to skip them. These events are naturally a big part of the fuksi year, but it is essential to also offer everyone calmer opportunities to get to know fellow students without alcohol and partying. Coffee catch-ups at pHuone, board game or movie nights, study sessions, pet therapy, or even different forms of sports. Really, only the sky and the budget are the limit when planning these types of events, and as a Fuksi Captain, I would personally like to increase the number of relaxed events like these.

PT has over 200 fuksis starting each year. What challenges and opportunities do you see this bringing to PT’s fuksi education?

Over 200 fuksis is a really large number, and naturally it brings a range of challenges, but I also see a lot of opportunities in it.
The challenge with such a large number of fuksis is that, honestly, there isn’t enough time in a year to get to know every single freshman on a fully personal level. Consequently, it is also more challenging to offer individual support or to notice if a single fuksi is struggling to integrate into the community. On the other hand, that is why we have a large group of BIGs, who can focus on a smaller group of students and spot more accurately if someone needs help for one reason or another. As a Fuksi Captain, I strive to maintain good communication with the tutors throughout the year so that I can stay up to date on the fuksi’s situation through them as well. It is impossible to manage this as a whole alone or even with another Fuksi Captain, which makes the role of the BIG coordinator and the BIGs particularly important during the first year.
Still, a large group of fuksis brings a fresh new perspective to our guild every year. Without fail, there is always enthusiasm among them to participate in guild events and activities, and many of them continue as active members of the guild after their fuksi year. This is essential for the continuity of the guild’s operations. A large number of fuksis also means that there are enough participants for almost every event, even if only a fraction of them actually attend. When over 200 new students join Prosessiteekkarit and other sister guilds every year, integrate into the Otaniemi community, and go on to share the unique teekkari tradition, I believe fuksi education has been more than successful.

How would you promote equality between Finnish- and English-speaking bachelor fuksis?

A generic answer to this would certainly be organizing joint events for Finnish and English speaking fuksis. I agree that hosting bilingual events is extremely important in bringing both groups together and promoting equality. However, in this regard, I feel that PT is already doing quite well. What is more essential is making an impact from the smaller things. For example ensuring that communications for new students and the guild are provided in both Finnish and English, that fuksi events are accessible regardless of language, and that teekkari culture is smoothly passed on in English as well. Finnish and English speaking fuksis unfortunately often end up separated from one another, so I want to promote integrating these two groups more right from orientation week. Whether that means, for example, a specific activity during orientation week that combines Finnish and English speaking fuksi groups, a checkpoint crawl during the year where groups are mixed, or something similar. My goal would be to give the fuksis more low-threshold opportunities to get to know one another. I am ready to start developing an idea like this further.

Being Fuksi Captain 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 hope for a relaxed yet motivated approach to the role from my co-Captain. The role of Fuksi Captain is rewarding, but at times demanding, and I want to be able to share both the good and the difficult moments with my partner. Good and clear communication is essential in this position to avoid conflicts or misunderstandings. If something is bothering either of us, I hope my partner will communicate it clearly to me, and vice versa. It would be a jackpot if I made a good friend out of my co-Captain, and I truly hope that happens.

As a partner myself, I would be a reliable and flexible team player. I am able to make compromises when necessary, and often the best ideas come from combining several thoughts together. I want to be a source of support for my partner, someone they can talk to even about difficult matters and I especially hope that deep trust develops between us. Responsibilities should be shared equally so that both of us also get to do things they enjoy. During busy periods, I want to be able to help my partner, and I hope for the same from them.

Working as a freshman coordinator also occasionally requires keeping a cool head. Situations can change quickly and schedules may run over. In these situations, I believe a sense of humor and not taking things too seriously help you get through difficult and busy days.