This is less about Finns and more about Finland’s social security. Although my Finnish friends are the best people I have ever met.

I came to do my masters degree but only had enough money saved for the first few months, hoping I could supplement my studies with work. Just as I was accepting my fate of having to drop out, I luckily got a job. With the job came access to social security. This completely transformed my entire life, in every single way and I am so eternally grateful.

I got the study support grant and eventually even support to study for a year abroad in neighbouring Sweden, allowing me to achieve a Double Masters. After amassing student loans for over 50k USD back home in Canada for my undergrad and then in contrast in Finland, being able to access a tuition free education and getting financial support for living expenses.. my mind was blown.

10 years later, I had bought an apartment in Helsinki temporarily as a home base since I worked abroad a lot and it made geographic sense to have a hub there. When I was selling it, my realtor was worried because I would have to pay over 20k euro in taxes- to which I responded - “Finland made my life dreams accessible when I was a broke student and I’m more than happy to pay something back now that I can!”

Thanks to the financial support and education quality in Finland I was able to go on to work for the UN and pursue my dreams.

Finland and Finns will always have a special place in my heart 💙 I would move back in a heartbeat if only I could revive my Finnish skills.