In Comms 211 we were required to write a final article for class, so I have decided to post mine seeing as this is a journalism blog. This is my first semester writing newspaper articles (or features), and I know there is room for much improvement.
Sini-Tuulia is a poetic term for the color blue and wind, in Finnish. Though Sini-Tuulia Sohkanen is not blue, the music from her $20,000 Eero Haati violin floats through the air like wind. She came to the United States in August to study violin performance at the BYU School of Music.
Sini-Tuulia Sohkanen was born on Aug. 19, 1989 in eastern Finland to Kari and Jaana Sohkanen. The oldest of five children, her siblings are Joakin, Enni-riia, Joonatan, and Jethro. Her hilly, hometown of Mikkeli is blanketed by nearly 700 lakes, each lined with pine, fir, and birch trees, according to Mikkeli City’s website. Mikkeli’s rural landscape provided many outdoor activities for young Sini-Tuulia and her family.
Growing up, the Sohkanen family frequently visited beaches on the numerous lakes in Finland, playing in the water and camping. The hills also provided resorts full of snowy slopes in the winter. Sini-Tuulia performed with her brother and sister, Joakin and Enni-Riia, at funerals, weddings, and other events as a teenager. Each child in her family grew up playing a musical instrument, including Sini-Tuulia.
“I remember the summer days in our childhood when we went to the marketplace in our town and played our violins together,” said Enni-Riia Sohkanen, Sini-Tuulia’s younger sister. “We got so much money that our whole family could travel abroad.”
At an early age of five, Sini-Tuulia became interested in playing the violin after watching a cousin practice. She applied to a music school, because public schools in Finland do not provide athletic or music programs. Her mother doubted whether she would be accepted, but it was Sini-Tuulia’s greatest desire, and soon after she was admitted.
As Sini-Tuulia progressed in her music, she outgrew the instructors and expertise in her hometown. When her 15th birthday approached, she made preparations to move three hours southeast of where her family lived to, Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
Sini-Tuulia moved to Helsinki so she could attend Sibelius Academy, a better music-centered school, and be taught by learned professionals. She moved into an apartment with women in their twenties. At 15 years old, Sini-Tuulia began to do her own grocery shopping, cleaning, and laundry.
“Now that I think about it, I probably would not do it again. I might have grown up a little too fast,” Sini-Tuulia said.
Practicing her violin for six hours a day in high school was normal, she said. As she went to the vocational high school in Helsinki, Sini-Tuulia also attended public schooling, earning a double high school degree. Though she led a busy life, Sini-Tuulia found time to return home once or twice a month, or her family traveled to Helsinki.
“There are many good memories of the days when we went to her tiny apartment. The first time she came home, it took time to get used to, but those were the special days. Then, everybody wanted to be at home,” Enni-Riia Sohkanen said.
Nearly every teenager’s dream world lacks the authority of parents. Sini-Tuulia however, maintained the values established by her family and faith while living on her own as a teenager.
“Being close to her, you can see she has a strong testimony and how hard it was to grow up in the situation she did,” said Chery Quist, Sini-Tuulia’s roommate. “She is the strongest person I know, not giving into any peer pressure. Even when all of her friends went to bars, she never drank.”
In 2007, Sini-Tuulia reached a turning point. After spending time with experienced musicians during the summer which lacked her values, she decided to audition at BYU. While she expressed BYU’s school of music was a step down from the academy she could have attended in Finland, Sini-Tuulia felt the environment here was unbeatable.
“The spirit was amazing. I felt so good being here. I wanted to come to a school where you combine church and normal life,” she said.
“I remember Sini telling me in one of her first e-mails how hard she was working so she could come to BYU. She mentioned how she had been here and felt the spirit so strongly and was excited to be with so many other members of the Church,” said Annie Elmer, the peer mentor for Sini-Tuulia’s Freshman Academy group.
“Her desire to be here really impressed me from the get-go, as I have seen other students come here feeling like they have a right to be here, or because their parents made them. Sini just seems to see it as a huge blessing.”
Raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proved a difficult thing for Sini-Tuulia and her family in Finland. Though they were resented by extended family, the Sohkanens remained strong in their faith. Sini-Tuulia looked forward to fitting in and being surrounded by so many church members.
On part scholarship, she flew 5,000 miles to the United States, to BYU, for fall semester and moved into her cinderblock room, otherwise known as on-campus housing. Being one of four Fins at BYU, Sini-Tuulia’s nationality has come to define her among the students.
“I was surprised at how much she knew about our culture and how much she was like me” Sini-Tuulia’s friend and BYU student, Arielle Driggs said. “She is just Sini. She is really not that different. She has different strengths and weaknesses, like the rest of us.”
Sini-Tuulia learned English during her schooling as a child in Finland, and while she has found schoolwork to be demanding and difficult at BYU, being a foreign student has not impeded her progress and success.
“My experience with Sini is nothing but positive. She is motivated and very likable,” associate professor of ancient scripture, David Whitchurch said.
“I am constantly impressed by her ability to succeed in a rigorous academic environment, especially in a foreign language,” said Sherilyn Farnes, Sini-Tuulia’s English professor. “I usually forget English is not her native language, since she is able to converse fluently and express herself very well in English.”
Sini-Tuulia Sohkanen never seems to haven fallen short of ways to express herself, whether it is through a language, talking, or performing music. She has played in over 300 concerts and events during her musical career thus far. At least 10 different times, Sohkanen has had the opportunity to play with many orchestras and perform solos.
“I like performing. That is my favorite thing. In general, I like beautiful things in life, and I think music is beautiful, especially when you are able to create something beautiful. It is a way for me to express myself,” Sohkanen said.
Sini-Tuulia’s dream to be a world-famous violinist has changed. After graduating and receiving a master’s degree, Sohkanen’s dream is to be like her previous violin teacher, Janne Malmivaara. They both share a passion for music and teaching.
“I have learned if you want to be very good, you have to sacrifice everything else,” she said.
Sini-Tuulia plans on continuing her education in the United States, after which she must return to Finland unless she marries an American.
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