This rejection first destroyed me
This story might have begun on the 6th of January 2026, but in reality, it began in September 2025. At this time of my life, I was doing an internship at a consulting firm to validate my biotechnology engineering & business diploma.
In France, there is a belief that after this kind of diploma, as for medicine and law, it is supposed to be the golden path, meaning a high-valued diploma, then a career where you did your internship, a family, and a house. Personally, I call it plan A. Mine was taken away.
Indeed, I learned during July 2025 that I was laid off because of the economic situation of the company and the other intern was preferred. Comical, for an enterprise doing 30% of growth every year, but why not. To me, this rejection first destroyed me, since my dream of stability in my life of instability might have been resolved thanks to this position. Then, it became a strength.
Why would I stay in a company where the team I’m in would just say “Hi” and “Bye” during a 7-hour shift? Why would I stay in a company where I’m sitting for the entire day and have no interaction except with the workers in the cafe downstairs? Why would I stay in a city I do not call home? Why would I poison myself for plan A?
One of my habits when I‘m feeling lost is to volunteer
After the actual shock and hatred that came from it, I calmed myself down and tried to see solutions instead of problems. During September 2025, while my friends were visiting me every weekend and my manager was not giving me any kind of task to sharpen my skills, I decided to create a website of all my accomplishments.
By doing so, I became aware of all the projects I’ve been on and how they transformed me. From my scientific background to my love for video games, with a touch of music and dance. Why would I settle for ordinary when I can be extraordinary?
One of my habits when I‘m feeling lost is to volunteer. I did that during my studies when I was doing my gap year in Paris and this is how I discovered what an ESC is. European Solidarity Corps, volunteering in Europe while most of your expenses are taken care of. A cheap and interesting way to travel abroad while learning about yourself and discovering new horizons. My instinct told me “Hmm you should try” and so I did. While every job offer I applied for got me nowhere, with 6 applications on the Youth Europa portal I was selected for 2 offers.
Then, Prague became an evidence
By drawing the cards for my future, Prague was the most transformative path in the most magical way for me. My graduation came in November 2025 and I was on a plane 2 months later for the Czech Republic, Prague.
At first, I was terrified. I finished my studies and I was going somewhere my biotechnology skills were not required. I had the impression that my diploma, that I worked so hard for, was useless. And plan A was definitely sinking to the bottom of the sea.
When I arrived in the accommodation I would stay in, on the desk a note from Eva was there. She was the previous ESC volunteer occupying the accommodation and knew that I would need some support. Thanks to her kindness and delicate note, it gave me strength to take this opportunity fully and embrace it with all my heart.
Now, my life, which was already a movie, took a new flavor… a colorful, lively and warm flavor. My days pass so fast, I am meeting new people, discovering new places, traveling the world while doing it and being supported by countless new amazing characters. By discovering new places I also discover and own new parts of myself, and rebrand the ones I left behind while surviving for so long.
I guess I was never made for plan A … this is what plan B looks like to me then.
Are you 18-30 years old? The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) offers you the opportunity to spend 2-12 months abroad working as a volunteer in a non-profit or in a state organization. INEX has been a sending, hosting and coordinating organization of the European Solidarity Corps (previously European Voluntary Service) since 2001. Thanks to our experience we have successfully sent more than 300 volunteers abroad and hosted more than 37 volunteers in our office.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
