I Thought It Was Just a Trip. Turns Out It Changed My Life
- Roibu Vlad
- May 4
- 2 min read
The unexpected transformation that happens when you join a youth exchange.
It started with a simple plan
Go to a new country. Meet some people. Try something new. You were not looking for life-changing moments. You just wanted a break, something fun, maybe something to add to your CV.
But somewhere between the first workshop and the last goodbye hug, something shifted.

You came for the trip. But stayed for the change
You expected to learn something. Maybe a few facts about the topic, a couple new words in another language, and how to fold your clothes better in a shared room.
But what you actually learned hit deeper.
You learned how to listen to people who grew up completely different from you. You learned how to express yourself in a group without fear. You learned what you believe in — and what you are still figuring out.
There is something about this space
It is not just the country or the hostel or the team-building games. It is the energy.
Everyone is out of their comfort zone. Everyone is learning as they go.That creates trust. That creates connection. That creates growth.
One day you are awkwardly introducing yourself.Three days later you are crying in a reflection circle.By the end of the week, you feel more seen than you have in months.
You go home different
The trip ends. The group chat stays open. The Youthpass certificate gets added to your portfolio.But that is not what stays with you.
What stays is the confidence. The shift in how you carry yourself. The memory of someone you barely knew saying something that hit you right in the chest.
"I was lost, to be honest. This didn’t fix everything. But it gave me momentum. It reminded me who I could be."— Participant, 20, Slovakia
It wasn’t just a trip. And it’s not over
Erasmus+ youth exchanges are short. But they have long impact.You do not just visit a new place. You visit a new version of yourself.
And once you feel that, you start looking at everything differently.
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