The Bite Magazine

The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle
Four seniors talk about life after high school
After two grueling years of DP, our seniors are about to head off to start new chapters of their
lives. Whether it’s studying at their dream university, taking a gap year, or serving in the military,
AISB’s graduating class of 2019 are doing some cool things. Here’s a closer look at what four students,
Venla, Clara, Andrei, and Charlotte, are doing after high school.
Venla P.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
I will be voluntarily attending the army of my home country, Finland,
for one year, with the goal of reaching the rank of a reserve
officer, which is the highest achievable rank within one year of
attendance.
What led you to this decision?
I was interested in the leadership training programs that the army
offers, and I was inspired by all of my family members who have
been very successful during their time in the army. I have been
doing strength training for about four years and I thought this
would be a good challenge for me-- to use my skills for a good
purpose (national defense).
Did you have any doubts of what to do or where to go?
Attending the army has been my goal for over two years and I’m still not sure what I will do after.
It’s very beneficial to have this one extra year to think about it.
Are you nervous?
What makes me the most nervous is how I will be treated as a girl in the army. It is very likely that
I will experience discrimination since attending the army is viewed as “a man’s responsibility” (the
army is mandatory for all men), and because I am smaller in size and will probably be considered