Jenni Kurki-Suonio knew already in comprehensive school that she would apply for a vocational school. She had been dabbling in cars her entire life, and wanted her education to be connected to them, too.
– I already knew a great deal about cars at that point. I didn't want to make studying too easy for myself, so I decided to also go to general upper secondary school and obtain a double qualification, Kurki-Suonio says.
She was recently reading her old diaries, in which she had also considered shipbuilding as her future profession.
– I liked welding in vocational school and found metal work interesting in general. I thought that if I could build ships, I could build much more, too.
Kurki-Suonio completed the vocational studies of a car mechanic at the then Haaga Vocational School, which is now the Ilkantie unit of Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute, Stadin AO. She completed her general upper secondary school studies at Mäkelänrinne Upper Secondary School. She did vocational studies on three days of the week and general upper secondary school studies on two.
– At the same time, I was car racing and working. The double qualification was planned so well and flexibly that it was possible to combine all these things.
Her example as a big sister was so inspiring that both of her younger brothers followed her example and obtained a double qualification. They, too, became car mechanics and general upper secondary school graduates.
One of her most memorable experiences during vocational school was her internship, which she did in England. It was her dream position at the time: a mechanic intern in a Formula racing team.
– The Finnish education system is flexible and supportive. As long as you have passion and ambition, you can develop yourself. I got help with such things as applying for scholarships.
Teachers receive praise, too: they are not only teachers, but also coaches.
Work on electric and hybrid cars
Upper secondary education was not the end of Kurki-Suonio’s study path. After the double qualification, it was clear to her that she needed to further cultivate her competences. She applied for Metropolia University of Applied Sciences because she wanted to join the Formula Student project.
During the project, the students designed and built a single-seat racing car that was driven in international races. During the Formula project, the students could not only apply the things they had learned during the lessons in practice, but also learn skills that were not taught in their lessons.
At that time, about ten years ago, Kurki-Suonio had already decided to study to become an electric vehicle engineer, because she considered electric cars the vehicles of the future.
Since her studies, her work has taken her to a company such as Jaguar Land Rover in England, where she worked as a project and strategy engineer in charge of electric and hybrid cars. In Finland, she has also worked as a journalist for Tekniikan Maailma magazine and outdoor & camping publications, among others.
Sustainability Science and Renewable Energy
A couple of years ago, she started studying again, this time at Lappeenranta University of Technology, majoring in Sustainability Science and minoring in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. She graduated last year.
– My enthusiasm for my studies was so contagious that my husband Antti caught it. He is currently studying at Lappeenranta University of Technology.
Kurki-Suonio wants to take part in solving the climate crisis, and the university gave her a broad understanding and tools to help her in the task. Today, she is a senior specialist at Metropolia, and involved in developing themes of sustainable development. She is currently focusing on a project that promotes carbon neutrality by growing carbon sinks.
– Students are involved in the project. They are the environmentally conscious actors of the future.
Kurki-Suonio says that continuous learning is important to her.
– There are many elements of sustainability and climate change that are not yet well understood.
No wrong choices
She reflects that even though she originally trained as a car mechanic, she did not make the wrong choice.
– My own career path is a good example of how passions can change. The choices made at the beginning of the study path are not necessarily final. All studies are beneficial and teach how to learn more.
Even if one later goes on to a whole different field, the studies have taught numerous valuable skills, from interaction to scheduling and prioritisation.
She has noticed that students face pressure from many directions when choosing their future study position. Parents have their own views, and society at large demands effective education and choosing careers that provide jobs soon after graduation.
– For me, the most important thing is to choose an area that you’re interested in. Studying is most meaningful when you enjoy it. And then you get to do and learn things that inspire.
Original text in Finnish: Kirsi Riipinen
The article was originally published in January 2022.