MAHDOLLISUUKSIEN MATKALAUKUT

  Growing up bilingual is a great richness, but the road to growth can sometimes be a little rocky. I moved from Nepal to Finland at the age of six and immediately started first grade here. There were many good reasons why my father decided to stay and study in Finland, such as the praised education system and the excellent level of safety. However, when I moved to Finland, my father was nervous about how I would learn Finnish and adapt to a new society. Finnish is, after all, considered one of the most difficult languages in the world. That is why learning Finnish became my primary goal both at school and at home. Fortunately, my learning at school was supported by the English language, which I had already learned at school in Nepal. In my free time, I wrote a diary, and often after school I practiced new Finnish words and pronunciation together with my mother. My father chatted with the boys next door and asked them to play with me and teach me Finnish, because I didn’t have Finn...

Kaksikielisenä kasvaminen on suuri rikkaus, mutta tie kasvuun voi olla välillä vähän kivistä. Muutin Nepalista Suomeen kuusivuotiaana ja aloitin heti ensimmäisen luokan täällä. Suomessa oli monta hyvää syytä, joiden takia isäni päätti jäädä juuri tänne opiskelemaan, kuten kehuttu koulutusjärjestelmä sekä erinomainen turvallisuustaso. Kun muutin Suomeen, isääni jännitti, kuinka tulisin oppimaan suomen kieltä ja sopeutumaan uuteen yhteiskuntaan. Suomea pidetään kuitenkin yhtenä maailman vaikeimpana kielenä. Juuri siksi suomen kielen oppiminen oli minun ensisijainen tavoitteeni sekä koulussa että kotona. Koulussa onneksi oppimistani tuki englannin kieli, jota olin jo oppinut koulussa Nepalissa. Vapaa-ajallani kirjoitin päiväkirjaa ja usein koulun jälkeen harjoittelin yhdessä äitini kanssa uusia suomenkielisiä sanoja ja ääntämistä. Isäni jutteli naapurin poikien kanssa ja pyysi heitä leikkimään ja opettamaan minulle suomea, koska minulla ei ollut suomalaisia kavereita. Uuden kielen ja kul...

If someone differs from the majority in any way – whether in skin colour , religion, or sexual orientation – the hurtful words and actions of others may create the impression that they are less valuable than others. "I dream that every child, every adult, and every young person feels valued – not despite their differences, but because of them." These were the words of Mustafe Muuse, who was chosen as the Role Model of the Year, in his emotional speech at the Sports Gala.   His speech was widely praised on social media, and its themes of equality, hope, and dreams were seen as simple yet deeply significant. Perhaps his words unearthed long-buried dreams in the hearts of the listeners, inspiring them to pursue what they had once set aside. In my opinion, the truth is that our differences allow us to shape our own identities, and this individuality is what brings value to human life.   It is dreams that give life meaning. However, no one should be in a situation where they ...