A Leap into the Deep End

It all started with youthful ambition and a desire to discover the world. Together with two friends from high school, we dreamed of studying abroad one day. Before taking such a big step, however, we wanted to prepare ourselves properly. That was how the idea of doing an international volunteering project while still in secondary school was born. One of us came across AIESEC, which offered opportunities to volunteer in some of the most exotic corners of the world. In the end, each of us ended up somewhere different - one friend went to Albania, another to Brazil, and I landed in Indonesia.

In my case, the volunteering project took place during the first weeks of the school year. It began in early August and lasted six weeks, so I returned to Poland in the second half of September. Fortunately, my school administration had no problem with that. I originally wanted to teach mathematics or physics, and during the summer the only projects of that kind available were in Indonesia. However, when I arrived, I learned that the school where I was supposed to teach had withdrawn from cooperation with the host organization. Luckily, they quickly found me another role - teaching English at a private language school. Looking back, I think it worked out for the best, because it turned out to be an incredibly enriching experience.

Volunteering there felt a bit like being thrown in at the deep end. I had never travelled outside Europe before, and suddenly I found myself in a country where almost everything was different - the culture, religion, everyday customs, food, and even attitudes toward time. In such a situation, you are forced to rethink all your habits and assumptions, because you quickly realize that many things function according to completely different rules. This even applied to such basic matters as using the bathroom. In Indonesia, as in many Southeast Asian countries, squat toilets are far more common. Often there is no toilet paper or running water either, so people use water from a nearby barrel or bucket for flushing and washing. Still, you can get used to anything.

I truly believe I would not be the person I am today if it were not for Indonesia. I learned so much about myself there, and to this day I see personal growth and experiences like this as the best investment in life. The trip not only gave me more confidence and strengthened my sense of agency, but also made me more attentive to other people and inspired me to become involved in many new activities. After returning home, I joined the local branch of AIESEC, where one of my responsibilities was making sure that international volunteers felt as welcome and comfortable as possible. I felt a strong need to give something back for all the kindness I had once received myself.

Szymon’s story comes from an interview published in the book Międzynarodowy Wolontariat Młodzieży. You can read the full version of the text here.

Updated on Fredag, 15/05/2026