You can find the Estonian translation below.
In english:
When I graduated from vocational school I didn’t know if I should go to university and what field I should study, I couldn’t find a job at the time, but I later got an offer to volunteer at my city’s cultural center. After a while, someone said that I could try volunteering in another country, but I didn’t trust myself very much, and maybe I was shy too, I havent been at any country at that time. After that, I tried various jobs, not only for myself but also to contribute to the family budget, even if I didn’t like most of the jobs I had.
When I lost a very close person, as you can already understand, it affected me quite a bit, I didn’t even know what to do with myself or was it worth the test. I started visiting the cultural center again, they didn’t have much activity at the time, so for a month I was volunteering at local kindergarten, and I very liked there (I love little kids, I hope one day I have atleast one myself).
When the quarantine started, I went to village in another city where my aunt lives, and after a while I started to feel a little better. In the middle of the summer I decided to look for a foreign organization looking for volunteers from other countries. Since adolescence I had better communication with younger people. I was more interested in activities of culture or youth center’s or something with nature, animals, because since childhood I spent most summers, sometimes winters, at my granny’s village, so I love and adore nature very much.
I was introverted for a long part of my life, leaving my hometown I couldn’t find people who I could really call friends, not just people I knew. After living for so long, I found it difficult to get in touch with people, I started avoiding my peers, my mother started calling me a “naminukas”, which practically means the spirit of the house, but I finally realized that I can’t live like this because it’s not life but just existence. Reading books, watching documentaries is not the same as understanding it from your own experience. I wanted more meaning from what I do, I am not a material personality, I am more inclined to help others than myself if I can, however sometimes it can be difficult for me to understand others, and sometimes it happens that I find it difficult to accept compliments and I try to criticize myself.
I think I am a diplomatic personality, I don’t want someone to be hurt, I am looking for compromises. I like things related to culture, history, volunteering was and still is a good opportunity (or even like rehabilitation, which at some point may be better than visits to a psychologist, and I say that from my own experience) for me to find myself and feel useful for someone, although sometimes my introvertism still shows up, and I start to hide my feelings and close myself off, so I hope such things will happen less in the future.
In Estonian:
When I finished vocational school, I didn't know if I should go to university or what exactly I should study. I also couldn't find a job at that time, but a little later, I received an offer to volunteer in my city's cultural department. Some time later, an acquaintance suggested that I could try volunteering in another country, but at that moment, I was a bit shy and slightly scared because I hadn't traveled before. After that, I tried various jobs, not only for myself but also to help my family, even if I didn't like many of the jobs I did.
When I lost a very close person, it affected me quite strongly, and I didn't know what to do with my future. Some time later, I started visiting my city's cultural department again, but unfortunately, they didn't have many activities for me, so I also started volunteering at a local kindergarten. I really enjoyed working at the kindergarten because I love children and hope to have my own children one day.
When the coronavirus pandemic began, I moved to another city to live with my aunt, and my well-being improved while I was there. In the summer, I decided to explore volunteer work opportunities abroad. From adolescence, I had good contact with young people. I was interested in various youth centres and their activities, nature, or animals, because in my childhood, I spent most of my time with my grandmother in a small village, so ever since then, I have loved nature.
I have been an introvert for most of my life, and when I left my hometown, I couldn't call the people there my friends. Living in that village for a long time, I found it increasingly difficult to communicate with people and began to avoid everyone. My mother started calling me "naminukas," which basically means a homebody. Finally, I realized that I couldn't go on living like that, because it wasn't really living, just existing. Reading books and watching documentaries isn't the same as experiencing life yourself. I wanted more meaning in the things I do. I am not a materialistic person, but I like to help others. Sometimes it is difficult for me to understand others and accept compliments, and I also tend to criticize myself.
As a person, I am someone who cares about the emotional state of others. I don't want to see others get hurt and I always want to find a compromise in everything. I am interested in culture, history, and volunteer work. For me, volunteer work is a good opportunity to find myself and be useful to others. Sometimes, however, the introvert in me awakens, and I want to hide my feelings and withdraw, but I hope this happens less and less in the future.
Klaudijus Daugela
Volunteer at the European Solidarity Corps at Tartu Youth Work Center
