Further, together

There’s a mix of uncertainty and confidence that comes with chasing success. I believe you can walk that path alone, but I know from experience that you can go so much further when you walk it with the right people. This has been the greatest leverage in my life, and I suspect it always will be.

My story begins with the unknown. When I first moved abroad to Finland, I had no specific direction. It was a new country, a new way of life, and while it was a beautiful place, being alone was never going to be part of my survival plan. Luckily, it didn’t have to be. The moment I stepped out of the airport’s arrival hall, I was met by two young Vietnamese guys with messy hair who, like me, knew nothing about this country. We’d only known of each other through a study service back home, but in that moment, we laid the first stone of a friendship that would become a cornerstone of our lives.

From day one, we shared everything: food, thoughts, study plans, even our living space. It was fun, chaotic, and real. That small trio gradually grew into a close-knit circle of friends, a space where we could still be open and share our thoughts daily. Five years have passed in a blink of an eye. Looking back, I’m incredibly proud to see that every one of us has achieved major milestones. It all started with sharing and doing things together, which evolved into helping each other find jobs and build connections. I learned so much from our community; it shaped me into the person I am today, and I feel a deep desire to give back everything I learn.

Being in a group like this isn’t always simple. When everyone is heading toward similar goals, a quiet competition can emerge, and the temptation to be selfish—to want to get ahead of the others—is real. But envy is a poison. This taught me my first lesson: to share more, not less. Giving freely is the greatest solution to the unhealthy rivalries that can fracture a community from within.

At the same time, you learn that not everything should be shared at any time. Each person has their own goals and interests, and the community itself has an identity built on shared desires. It’s crucial not to pollute that common ground with thoughts that don’t serve the group. This was my second lesson: to respect the group’s identity. Learning to share appropriately is a sign of maturity and respect.

Perhaps the most valuable part of this circle is the honesty. These friends know me best, including my weaknesses and blind spots. We all have a strong ego in the areas where we feel competent, but that confidence can hide our biggest flaws. Accepting hard advice and criticism is never easy, but it’s essential for growth. In a community built on trust, you learn to analyze these difficult truths and make them part of your self-reflection. This was my third lesson: to open myself to improvement.

It’s impossible for a group of people to have the same background, ambitions, and financial situations forever. At some point, life demands that we each take a different focus, a unique approach to success. Our paths may diverge from the one we thought we’d travel together. However, the core values we forged will keep us connected. Time moves quickly, and I know a close-knit group like this is a rare gift. We have to leverage it, learn from it, and cherish it while we can.