At 42, I started studying for a vocational qualification in information and communications technology at Suomen Yrittäjäopisto. I study online, and the course covers IT support, computer networks, programming and cybersecurity, among other things. It has been over 25 years since I was last in school, so getting back into studying has taken some adjustment.
I have been interested in technology and computers since childhood. I have spent a lot of time with them, picking up all kinds of skills by doing things and experimenting. I run a homelab with services for both personal use and work. For example, I use Nextcloud as my own cloud storage for files. I also build and optimise websites for myself and others as a side job.
Over the years, I have done plenty of other things too. Music, photography and all sorts of work as an entrepreneur. I have never been short of interests, but at times everything I do has felt a bit scattered. Now I want to deepen my technical skills and get a clearer picture of how to connect them with my previous experience.
AI has already helped me bring more structure to my work. When you run a business on your own, a large part of your time can go into the same repetitive tasks. Something needs doing today, and tomorrow it is waiting for you again. With AI, I have been able to automate some of those routines and free up time for other things.
This has made a practical difference in marketing. Getting help with things like routine social media posts leaves me more time to think about and create more imaginative marketing. These experiences have made me interested in moving further towards AI and automation professionally. I could combine my background in entrepreneurship, my marketing experience and my technical skills. The exact direction is still taking shape, but I am keen to explore it.
Online study has felt good so far. I enjoy working independently, and it is nice to return to a subject that interests me. Of course, some human contact would do me good too, so I do not spend all my time sitting at a computer. That is something I need to make room for when studying this way.
The hardest part has been learning how to study again. I have kept developing my skills and learning new things through my own projects. Still, returning to formal education after such a long break feels different. Now I also have to think about how I learn: what is the best way for me to work through things and actually remember them?
I do not have an answer to that yet. I am finding my own way of studying as I learn more about the subjects themselves. At this point, I am glad I decided to give it a go.