Coincidence may change everything

I believe that every person comes in your life with a reason - whether it is to teach you something, to bring something new in your life or to create an unforgettable friendship. But every single person in our lives is there for a reason. And sometimes you meet the most valuable person just by a coincidence. With exactly a coincidence like this my story started. Our story.

We met at the international education fair „Skola 2014” in Riga, Latvia. We were representing different companies in opposite sides of the hall and we could have spent these 3 days not meeting each other, but apparently life had other plans for us. We met on the second day and almost immediately formed a strong connection. It felt like I had known him for a long time. Our conversation was easy and smooth and it was more than clear for us that this wouldn’t be our last. And it wasn’t.

After this event we kept on talking online and meeting for coffees. During this time spent together, we talked about our future goals, our dreams and passions. In one of our conversations I shared my long dream about participating in the European Voluntary Service (EVS). Immediately, he asked the question – so why don’t you do it?! And although I had built so much excuses in my head why now is not the right time to do it, I couldn’t really answer him. It was hard to come up with at least one reason for why I shouldn’t do it now. So he kept on asking many questions, which made me realize that this was the perfect moment for me to start looking for my EVS project.

Along the way, while I was doing my volunteering work research and trying to find the perfect project for me, he was the one who regularly asked me – so have you found a project yet? What is happening with your application? How far are things? Have you received an answer?

He was the one who was there by my side. Most of the people around me were a bit skeptical, but not him. He was supporting, encouraging and pushing me not to stop at one point and to really go on this amazing journey.

So when the day came and I received an email with good news, telling me that I would be going to do my EVS for 1 year in Bulgaria, he was the first one I wanted to tell. As he was my strong wall and big shoulder, there was no other person I really wanted to share these good news with. And when I did, he was as happy and excited about it as myself.

I have been on my spectacular EVS journey 4 months now and even though we don’t speak every day and not even every week, I still feel his support; I feel that he is really happy and proud that I did it. Even though it took me about 1,5 years to finally pack my luggage and take the plane to the most exciting adventure in my life so far, he never left my side.

If there ever comes a moment in my life where I write a book about my incredible volunteering experience and 1 year abroad, I will definitely devote it to him - my inspiration, courage, motivation and strength.

And I wish everyone who ever thinks about doing something really important for them, whether it is volunteering, hitchhiking through Europe, applying for a job, studies, internship or contest, or anything else, to have this one person who will be there for them. Who will encourage you, who will support you, who will make you question yourself sometimes and most importantly, who will be your strong wall and big shoulder. People like that are the biggest treasures we can ever have.