Speech of Garri Raagmaa, Director of Pärnu College, at the 2024 Graduation Ceremony

Honourable Mayor, Vice Dean, esteemed colleagues, graduates, and guests,

As the grass grows tall by midsummer, the dew-drenched meadows sway chest-high.
:,: Tell me, where can I make a path – everywhere there is young and blooming hay! :,:

These words by Hando Runnel were set to music by Vello Toomemets, and the band Fix captivated the public with this song already in the Soviet era.

Regardless of the era, culture runs deep within the people and always influences their behaviour. The shortest night of the year is indeed a good reason for celebration, and since these midsummer nights often turn out quite chilly, it is a good idea to light a bonfire to keep warm. And once there is a bonfire, various games can be played around it, including jumping over the fire. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE THAT? EVER IN YOUR LIVES? To someone from elsewhere in the world, this might seem quite crazy. On the other hand, we find many customs of other nations strange, but that's how culture evolves – the farther away, the more it differs.

Last weekend, there were constant traffic jams on Estonia's roads. I've never seen so much traffic on the highways! People were preparing for Midsummer's Eve! You can't light a Midsummer's fire on the balcony of a city apartment. This means that everyone seeks out their second house and ancestral places, and those who don't have any, make their way to friends. Cities empty out and rural areas fill up as they were a hundred years ago. In academic terms, people are transregional: here today, there tomorrow.

To graduates

From today onwards, you face an especially tough week, culminating in Midsummer's Eve. Hang in there and don’t do anything foolish out of great joy. Self-driving cars are not yet advanced enough. And don't jump over a too big fire or into unknown waters! But if you've made university diploma – we will soon hear from the student representatives how challenging this journey was! – you should have enough sense.

What's next? 

The Statistics Estonia published a new long-term forecast last week, showing growth only in Harju and Tartu counties. This is a linear forecast that does not consider already decided changes. Look at how wind farms are rising. And in 6-7 years, it should be possible to reach Tallinn Airport from here in 40 minutes. In any case, we in Pärnu County have decided not to shrink. Pärnu County as a whole, and especially Greater Pärnu, has actually been growing for several years. More and more remote workers officially live in shrinking peripheral areas but are registered in Tallinn.

Pärnu urgently needs new specialists – young, analytical, motivated, with a college diploma. The spa and hotel sector, as well as the social services, certainly, but increasingly also in the industry around Rail Baltic and wind farms, which need good project managers, marketers, service designers, and others. So before the real estate prices here go completely crazy, it's worth looking for a place to live here.

Then it's good to continue studying. Higher education has been provided in Pärnu for 325 years – in 1699, Academia Pernaviensis started. So those who are now receiving their first higher education diploma can step a few steps up from that college mirror, down the corridor, and submit their master's application to the academic office across from the student room. Actually, yes, of course, all this can be done in SAIS as well. And if a full master's program seems too daunting, then please – you can also take a microdegree and later compile a degree from these.

Do you know who Erasmus of Rotterdam was? 

Desiderius Erasmus actually lived in Rotterdam only for the first 4 years. After receiving his education, he travelled around Europe: lived in France, Italy, England, present-day Germany, and Switzerland. 15-16th century. This, by the way, was done on horseback. By learning about different cultures, he became a humanist and pacifist; being a catholic, he supported Martin Luther in many ways while debating with him; he understood the positions of Jews and Muslims, but was also critical of European rulers. A true intellectual.

Europe now has an academic mobility program, ERASMUS, which supports studying or doing an internship abroad. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE USED IT? Well, you see! There is still room for improvement. I have studied, lived, and travelled abroad for far more than 2 years; soon, it will be 3. And not on a city break or a week-long package, where you spend money in tourist traps, lounge by the pool, and return just as knowledgeable with a huge carbon footprint. One must live like Desiderius Erasmus for a longer period on site. You make local friends and only then do you REALLY understand where you are and what kind of culture it is.

Traditions

When James Cook saw Polynesians riding waves on wooden boards, he might have thought they were crazy. At least he was certainly astonished. And try to do it yourself! Today it has become a worldwide hit – surfing. In this environment, however, it is organic – even dolphins surf. And when we are seen jumping over the fire, the first reaction is probably the same – completely crazy! But this is part of our culture that has developed over thousands of years. Whether this will become a worldwide hit can be doubted, but we do have the most unicorns per capita instead.

So it must be a really great place. To live and create. And you only understand that when you've been away from home for a longer period.

Wishing you a successful career, educational new studies, and exciting world exploration!