Hello, my name is Dominika, I’m 28, and if I had to sum up my life in one sentence, I’d say it has been a constant search for ways to combine creativity with meaningful work.
When I was 19, I packed my bags and left Poland to start my studies in the UK. For three years I immersed myself in Arts and Festivals Management & Dance at De Montfort University in Leicester. It was an intense, colorful period of my life – full of projects, late-night rehearsals, and discovering how art can bring people together. I graduated in 2020, right into the chaos of the pandemic. Like many, I felt lost. The cultural world had stopped, events were canceled, and I wasn’t sure where to go next.
I returned to my hometown, Warsaw, where I enrolled in a one-year photography school almost on a whim. That “whim” turned into passion – photography became my new language. At the same time, I decided to keep studying and finished a master’s degree in Cultural Studies and Arts Management. Somewhere along this journey, I went on an Erasmus exchange to Sicily. That experience changed me profoundly: the people I met there, the creative energy, the way I learned to see opportunities outside of my comfort zone. It planted the seed for everything that followed.
Over the last year, I’ve been working hard on building my photography portfolio. People loved my work, which was encouraging, but I constantly felt like I was missing the tools to transform my passion into a sustainable business. Around this time, a close friend of mine returned from the EYE program in Fuerteventura. Listening to her stories — how much she grew professionally and personally, and the connections she made — was a huge source of inspiration for me. That was when I realized: I want this too.
Originally, I thought I would go to Spain, but life surprised me. Through the EYE website, I was contacted by a host in Portugal who ran the exact type of creative business I dream of building myself. After several calls, we realized it was a perfect match. I couldn’t let the opportunity pass – so I packed my car and drove all the way from Poland to Portugal. It was exhausting, yes, but also exciting – the feeling of starting a new chapter kept me going through every kilometer.
The first 15 days here felt like a mix of adventure, culture shock, and small victories. I arrived in a charming town I had never been to before. The first thing I noticed was the light – warm, golden, completely different from Warsaw’s grey winters. My first days were all about exploring: walking narrow streets, finding the best coffee spots, slowly picking up words in Portuguese, and getting to know the local pace of life.
Professionally, I jumped straight into work with my host entrepreneur. The atmosphere in the company is collaborative and inspiring; I am learning about marketing strategies, client communication, and how to price creative services. At the same time, I’ve been able to contribute with my photography – helping with shoots, editing images, and bringing my own ideas to projects. That balance of giving and learning feels incredibly rewarding.
On a personal level, these first weeks have already changed me. Moving alone to another country forces you to grow fast – you figure out how to solve problems, ask for help, and stay open to new people and experiences. I’ve made friends, learned to slow down and enjoy small moments, and gained confidence in my ability to adapt.
I joined EYE out of curiosity and the desire for growth, but now I see it’s also about connection – with people, with places, and with myself. I can already feel how much this experience will shape not only my professional path but also the person I am becoming. And this is only the beginning.