My name is Ruvindu, Rue for short. You might have seen me around campus or on Instagram XD. For those of you who don’t know me, a bit about myself: I’m in my second year of studies as a software engineering student. I also serve as a board member of Tamko, which is the Students’ Union of TAMK.
My role on the board is to organize leisure and well-being events for our students. Some of those events are “Hangouts,” which is held every month at Solu, where students get to hang out and enjoy board games and sauna with some snacks, and “Siipibingo,” which, as the name suggests, is a delicious wing buffet and a fun bingo night.
Why I Wanted to Join
The reason I decided to write this blog is to share my experience of being the first-ever international student in the oldest and largest Students’ Union in Finland, and hopefully inspire some of you as well.
I had always been interested in organizational work, and I got Tamko’s membership before even moving to Finland. Of course, I didn’t then know I would get the chance to join the board myself, but I’d like to think that’s where my journey truly began.
At first, I didn’t have a clear idea of how to get involved in Tamko’s work. Then one day, I got the Tamko Topics email, and while mindlessly reading through it, I found out about the board recruitment for the year 2025. What made it extra special was that Tamko mentioned they were looking forward to welcoming their first-ever English-speaking board member.
I instantly knew that this was my calling. I read every bit of information top to bottom and decided that I was going to apply for the Tamko board, and the strong approval and support of my friend gave me even more encouragement.
The First Step: Visiting Solu
So I went to Solu with my friend, the place where the Tamko office is located and, in many ways, the living room of students on campus. There, I met Berfin, the member services expert. I asked her about the board recruitment, and she pulled Riina out of the office so we could have a little chat.
Riina was the communications representative in 2024, and now she’s the Chairperson of the Council. She was the perfect person to talk to; she gave me all the details about what life as a board member is like and what Tamko does. She highly encouraged me to apply and also to attend the open board meeting held downstairs in Solu before the constitutive meeting, where board members are selected.
I later got to know that Riina had mentioned my visit to her fellow board members at the time, saying, and I quote, “I found the perfect international student for the board.” Needless to say, I was quite excited to hear that later on!
My First Board Meeting
So I went to the open board meeting, dragging my friend along. I remember when the then Chairperson, Julia, asked if there was anyone who only spoke English. Out of a room filled with people, it was just my hand that rose up.
After that, the open board meeting was held bilingually, and I got to learn a lot about the kind of matters the board deals with and how they have fruitful discussions to agree and vote on those matters.
At the end of the meeting, we were treated to free pizza, and I had the chance to speak with the board members about their individual roles so I could figure out which role interested me most.
My main focus was on promoting student activities to international students and representing and advocating for inclusion. Naturally, my instinct was to go for the Internationality Representative role, but after talking with them, I realized I would much rather become the Leisure Representative, so I could make the biggest impact organizing bilingual, small-scale events and promoting well-being.
The Big Day: The Constitutive Meeting
Then came the big day, the constitutive meeting, where the new board members are elected. I sat in the meeting hall all alone because my friend couldn’t make it that day. At that moment, I felt like I had stepped into a completely different world, and it felt quite scary.
But then I said to myself, “I am meant for this, and I belong here.”
First, the chairpersons were elected by the council members, and then it was my turn. Everyone who wished to be on the board had to step in front of the room. If my memory is correct, there were about 16 candidates but only 9 seats on the board.
We were first asked common questions that everyone had to answer. Despite it being nerve-racking, I gave pretty good answers, and then it was time for the council members to ask their own questions. Everything went well, and then came the time for voting.
Surprise, surprise – Your boy had gotten in!
It was such a tremendous achievement for me. Not even having lived in Finland for three months, I had become a board member at the biggest Students’ Union in Finland.
Life on the Board
I have come so far and grown so much since then. This experience taught me more than just event organizing or teamwork; it showed me the value of inclusion and how diverse voices can make student life stronger.
I’ve learned how to lead, communicate across cultures, and adapt to new challenges. I’ve traveled around Finland with the board members, networking, learning, and advocating for students.
I’ve met many amazing people, and the best part of it all is that I’ve made great friends on the board who I truly admire and can rely on. I’ve organized many events and helped out other members with many other matters.
It has truly been a wonderful journey this past year. I’m the happiest because I got to show myself and everyone that it only takes a little bit of courage, and you can make any change happen.
If you’re an international student wondering whether you belong in these kinds of roles, trust me, you do. You don’t have to speak perfect Finnish or know all the traditions. What matters most is your willingness to learn, contribute, and connect.
Getting Involved
If you’d also like to get involved in Tamko’s activities, keep an eye out for Tamko’s Instagram. We’ll soon have our Open Board Meeting, as well as the Constitutive Meeting, where you can apply to become a board member for 2026.
And if you ever see me around Solu, don’t hesitate to say hi! I’m always happy to chat about Tamko, events, or even F1.
P.S. I am a Max Verstappen fan. 🏎️
About the Author:
Hey, I am Ruvindu, Rue for short. I am a 2nd year
