Amispäiväkirjat is a Finnish reality documentary series that follows the everyday lives of vocational students from different parts of Finland. The program portrays students’ experiences at school, during workplace training, and in their personal lives.
The aim of the series is to highlight the diversity of vocational education and training (VET) and to showcase the different paths, ambitions, and challenges faced by young people in Finland. The series aired on the Nelonen TV channel and the Ruutu streaming service, earning attention for its authentic portrayal of vocational education and youth culture.
A national spotlight on vocational students
In spring 2023, audiences across Finland followed the lives of seven young people who had chosen vocational education in Amispäiväkirjat. Among them was plumber Viljami Turve, who that same year received the Taitajien Taitaja (“Master of Skills”) title in Finland’s national vocational skills competitions. The series reached approximately 1.3 million viewers across Nelonen channels and the Ruutu streaming service, demonstrating strong public interest in real-life stories from vocational education.
A new season in 2025
In autumn 2025, the reality documentary returned with a new group of seven main characters, offering another look into the lives of vocational students across Finland:
- logistics students Netta Kinnunen and Sella Pessa from Tampere Vocational College Tredu
- surface treatment student Vilma Hiltunen from Lappia
- automotive mechanic student Aapo Heinämäki from Hyria
- business and administration student Henna-Riikka Äijälä from JEDU Vocational Education and Training Consortium
- media studies student Leevi Pajukangas from Vamia
- confectionery student Erika Ukkonen from Sampo Vocational College
The series follows the students’ everyday lives, dreams, victories, setbacks, sorrows, and moments of great joy — those defining moments when everything either succeeds perfectly or falls apart completely.
The production is carried out in cooperation with Skills Finland, six vocational colleges, and corporate partners including Kaukokiito and K-Auto. Together, these partners help showcase how young people build their own paths toward their dream careers.
Vamia’s voice in the series
Vamia is represented in the series by media studies student Leevi Pajukangas, whose studies and everyday life in Vaasa are followed throughout the program. Through his story, viewers also gain insight into Vamia’s different fields of study and learning environments.
Leevi reflects on his experience in the series:
“I’m a 19-year-old guy currently in my final year studying media at Vamia in Vaasa. Amispäiväkirjat was a really interesting project. I’ve been making YouTube videos with a friend for years, so I already had some experience being in front of a camera. Through Amispäiväkirjat, I learned to be even more myself and became more comfortable speaking naturally to the camera. It was a lot of fun to be part of this, and I’m grateful that I was chosen for the series.
I really love studying media at Vamia because you get to be creative here. I can truly be myself, and every day I go to school excited to continue projects and learn something new. The teachers are also super nice! I know this sounds like an advertisement, but I genuinely mean it. Choosing to study at Vamia was the best decision I could have made. During my studies, I’ve learned a lot — including how to use cameras and lighting, write scripts, and do graphic design work.”