Actor, author and former Member of Parliament Jani Toivola says that his lower secondary school tutor and history teacher had a profound impact on his life. With encouragement from his teacher, Toivola learned to see himself as someone who could and would learn just like anyone else.
Jani Toivola still remembers the feeling: fear, anxiety and stress. His parents had moved during the summer, and he would start life at a new lower secondary school.
For the whole summer, Toivola had heard rumours of his new school. The school had a bad reputation, and he would likely get bullied from his very first day there.
“I had been bullied in school before, so I hoped for a miracle of not having to start at a new school,” Toivola remembers.
I had been bullied in school before, so I hoped for a miracle of not having to start at a new school.
Autumn came and school started. The rumours of the school’s notoriety turned out to be baseless: the older children at the school were very helpful and caring, and Toivola felt that the school was safe otherwise as well.
“However, what made my journey in the new school especially significant was my new tutor and history teacher Irmeli,” Toivola says.
His teacher broke the mould of what it meant to be an adult
Jani Toivola describes Irmeli as a teacher who broke the mould of what it meant to be an adult. Irmeli was loud and had a big laugh. She would sit at the corner of her work desk and tell stories of the turns of history and the notable figures. She had a turtle neck, high heels and jeans with holes on their knees.
“I stared at her with my mouth agape and thought to myself how an adult could have holes in their jeans,” Toivola says with a laugh.
As a teacher, Irmeli broke the mould of what it meant to be an adult.
Toivola tells us that he was below average and restless in primary school. He did not see himself as someone who could learn and be intelligent and that all the information and learning opportunities were there for him.
“However, Irmeli saw me in a way I was not used to before. The way she looked at me right from my first day there made me feel like I belonged there and that the school, knowledge and learning were in my reach,” Toivola remembers.
Irmeli saw me in a way I was not used to before. The way she looked at me right from my first day there made me feel like I belonged there and that the school, knowledge and learning were in my reach.
As a minority member, Toivola says that one easily feels that there is only one right way of being human. The category is often very narrow, and even though it hurts, you still try to fit yourself into the mould you were given.
“The message that I wanted to hear more than anything was that I could step in the room simply as myself and that I would not have to hide parts of my identity or cover up my own story. I wanted to hear that exactly those features that separated me from everyone else could be the sides of me that would help me better set myself in the centre, and that ultimately life comes down to the ability to hear one’s own thoughts, more so than asking for permission to be yourself from the outside.”
The message that I wanted to hear more than anything was that I could step in the room simply as myself and that I would not have to hide parts of my identity or cover up my own story.
My teacher encouraged me and helped me think
Gradually, Toivola began to get excited about reading and homework. For the first time, he was brave enough to raise his hand in history class and was complemented for his good answer. Toivola’s teacher challenged him and helped him pursue lines of thought beyond the answers.
Gradually, Toivola began to get excited about reading and homework. For the first time, he was brave enough to raise his hand in history class and was complemented for his good answer.
“My teacher told us that books only contain information, but when the information meets the person reading it, thoughts and views are born. That I would have my own views just like anyone else.”
Day by day, Toivola felt his confidence grow. It was as if he had got a second chance, and he tells us that he saw himself in a new light. Toivola started to invest in his studies and managed to raise his average grades by one point.
“What changed was how I saw myself, along with my relationship to information and learning. I attribute this entirely to Irmeli. She was the one who made things click in my brain and looked at me in a new light and in a way that no one had looked at me before.”
New perspective on the importance of teachers through my daughter
Irmeli stands out to Toivola among his teachers. The insights she gave him have stayed with him throughout his entire life. At the same time, one can see that the work and presence of competent teachers lay the foundation for the well-being of the entire society.
“Without teachers, Finland would be a more shallow and soulless country. People wouldn’t have their own thoughts or the ability to engage themselves and others. We would not have the ability to refine the information around us and thereby create new things, nor would we have the ability to create well-being for ourselves and one another.”
Without teachers people wouldn’t have their own thoughts or the ability to engage themselves and others.
He shares his gratitude to all teachers in Finland. As he watches his own daughter in school, he is reminded of the importance of the work of teachers.
“The good work of teachers is solidified when I look at my daughter, who is now in second grade. It is an indescribable feeling to know that your own child has a teacher who sees them, even the features you yourself cannot always notice when looking from too close. My daughter’s teacher is a great support for me in allowing me to give my daughter the space she needs to grow into her own person.”