I'm still searching, but I know a lot more about myself than I did a year ago.
I think, like many young people nowadays, I feel a bit confused and lost in this world. I expected that going to college would give me a clear direction in my life, a straight path for my future. Well, I was a little bit wrong. It's clearly not the case for everyone, but I also know I'm not alone in thinking this way.

*Roadtrip no.1 Ring Road - around the entire island

From my parents' stories of their student days, I formed certain expectations, but the reality was quite different. Times have changed radically. It seems to me that, despite the fact that technology connects us, we are becoming more and more isolated because of it. I never really got the chance to know some of my dorm mates, as they usually spent their free time on their cell phones and computers. The only verbal exchange we had was if we happened to meet in the hallway and politely said a few words to each other. Cooking in the shared kitchen was the same story, everyone had headphones in their ears, and you usually just greeted each other.

*Roadtrip No. 2 East Fjords of Iceland

And what about Erasmus at a foreign school that should give you unforgettable experiences? In many cases, you are prevented from going by a reluctant referee. In case you do get abroad, a lot of times very helpful lecturers don't want to give you credit for your courses, and you have to extend your studies. So many people give up on Erasmus in order to finish school on time.
I think you could already guess how my studies went… and as a result, I felt I was burning out a bit. I longed for something tangible, I also wanted to feel at least a little bit useful, and I didn't want to just thing, whether I am just wasting my time?

*Camp participants could try out their photographic skills by capturing various natural phenomena

I knew I needed a break from school, at the very least. So I decided I would go volunteer after I finished my bachelor's degree. Through Kerick's website, I found the project offer. The job consisted of leading photography camps for foreigners in Iceland. This country was on my radar for a while, and I love photography, so there was no question.
I hadn't the slightest idea how this experience would enrich me and take me further in life—how much I would discover about myself, what new things I would learn. I will try to sum it all up briefly in the following paragraphs.

*Photos from environmental + photography camps. Volunteers cleaning the beach.

I guess it’s good to start by saying that even in the realm of volunteering, this was a very specific experience that may not be for everyone. I would say that everything stands and falls on the people you experience it with. You work together all the time, you depend on each other, and mutual support is incredibly important. There are four of you in one room and sometimes over twenty of you in the house. What felt like a dream come true for me can be an incredibly stressful environment for others. Not to discourage some less social people from volunteering overall, in the majority of projects, you usually have a room by yourself or share it with one other person.

Considering all mentioned in the previous paragraph, I have to say that I consider myself extremely lucky. In my generation of volunteers, and in the following one as well, there was not one difficult person; everyone got along smoothly. I was surrounded by people with whom I longed to spend all possible free time, to explore the country with, and to have incredible adventures together. 

*My amazing friends. (Colleagues + volunteers)

Being a camp leader taught me many things. I became a lot more flexible because sometimes situations evolved daily, and I had to be ready for sudden changes. The participants came from all over the world; they were of all ages and had different expectations and ideas. The interactions with them enriched me immensely and broadened my perception of the world and the people in it. They also taught me that you can't always satisfy everyone’s needs 100%, how important it is to keep a certain distance, maintain an unbiased view, and not take things personally.

*During your trips, with a bit of luck and in the right season, you may come across seals or puffins.

I don't want to go on and on, there's already quite a lot of it. What I can guarantee myself is that after an experience like this, your perspective on many things will change. You will realize your priorities, you will gain self-confidence, and your life will start to take a new direction. You don't want to go back to the routine of normal functioning, you want something more. And the good news is that where one adventure ends, another begins.

*Roadtrip No. 3 Highlands - offered some of the most beautiful scenery in my life.

Now, with a few months of distance, I can safely say that I have made some amazing new friends. I'm in regular contact with many of them on social media. In addition, we have managed to meet outside of Iceland as well. I've already had a visit from Germany and Madeira, which, in turn, I travelled to a few months later, and I've also managed to add Sicily to the mix. Right now, I'm on another short-term project in Portugal, and I can't wait for the moment when I get to meet some of them here again. Relationships like these are very precious, and that's why it's important to take care of them as best as you can.

In closing, just a little life philosophy: I personally believe that everything in life has some meaning, even what we may not understand at some point in time. College has given me a lot of theoretical knowledge, and I think I will definitely use it in some way in the future. Then there's the school of life, and what you take away from it, is of incredible value for everyday existence. I consider Iceland to be one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned from it so far.