Finland’s oldest spring graduate at 79 finds unexpected joy in Finnish language studies

Seppo Tuuha, a 79-year-old from Ulvila, has become Finland’s oldest student to earn a high school diploma this spring, originally drawn to mathematics but surprised by his enjoyment of Finnish language courses, reports Yle.

Tuuha, who completed his studies at Pori Adult Upper Secondary School, is no stranger to education—he previously trained as a technician in Pori (1972) and later as a senior mechanical engineer in Turku (1973). Retired for over two decades, he sought intellectual stimulation, particularly in math and physics, but found limited options in adult education.

“Community colleges didn’t offer suitable courses in those subjects,” Tuuha explained. “I’d studied languages there—English, Spanish, and some Italian—but wanted more.”

Encouraged by his wife, he enrolled in upper secondary school, where Finnish language studies defied his expectations. “I feared grammar drills, but instead we analyzed texts—literature, songs, even poetry—alongside videos. It was engaging.”

Though Tuuha used English professionally for over 40 years, the exam proved challenging. “Let’s just say I passed,” he diplomatically noted. His final grades included a C in mathematics, physics, and Finnish, and a B in health studies.

Celebrations will be modest: a gathering of about 30 close friends and family. “I won’t be heading to a nightclub,” Tuuha quipped.