Student Communities - Strength Lies in Unity
Humans are social animals. This is a phenomenon that strongly characterises our everyday activities. But what does it actually mean? Does it refer to the fact that it is more natural for humans to be together than alone? Or does it mean we need other people to be happier? In any case, it is clear that a sense of belonging is a fundamentally important experience for human beings. Student communities provide an excellent platform for creating this sense of community while offering many other benefits.
In our student community at KY the sense of community is very much in the DNA of our operations. Everything we do is done by our members for our members, creating tight bonds between the active members. Inside our big community, we have many smaller groups, which together form a vibrant whole where everyone can find their place. That is why it is no wonder the sense of togetherness is also included in the vision of KY's new strategy: "One KY. There for every kylteri". The vision includes a promise that there is only one KY – it is something unique that cannot be imitated. On the other hand, it also states that KY works together as a unit towards a common good.
It is precisely in the power of cooperation where the strength of student communities lies. No one could complete the volunteer work projects alone: they can only be done together. As I recently heard someone phrase it: “You can achieve a lot on your own, but you can only reach your goal together.” I believe that there is something very fundamental hidden in that statement. Naturally, community spirit is by no means a new theme: after all, our slogan was “strength lies in unity” already back in the 1930s. It is precisely this spirit of working together that is the key to the community spirit that KY offers. Few things unite people as effectively as a common enemy. Whether it is the endless pile of dishes after an event or an annual ball speech that seems to go on forever.
What does this community-based activity essentially offer our members? Friends, for sure. Perhaps even some impressive CV entries. Most importantly, skills that are impossible to learn from textbooks. I recently had a discussion with a member of KY's Honorary Delegation about what KY has given him, and his answer was very clear. The school provided substantive expertise, while KY developed his social and teamwork skills. A similar phenomenon has been noticed even at the top management of the School of Business: our graduates have often been criticised for their lack of soft skills. Substantive expertise is relatively easy to accumulate and update through independent study. However, it is almost impossible to build a similar foundation for social skills without some kind of reference framework – a community. In this sense, the role of KY is not only significant as a provider of community but also as an educator during our years of study.
Student communities are therefore important social interaction platforms for their members, both in terms of the meaningfulness of their current lives and their future prospects. Listening to different opinions and building common ground is easier when it is already a familiar practice from student days. In a way, the essence of our activities lies in how casual activities with friends can imperceptibly turn into invaluable life skills. These are skills that I would like to see more and more of our members acquire during their studies. After all, the closer we build our community together, the stronger we become.
