When I left for my Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs experience, I expected to learn new professional skills, but I did not realize how quickly the experience would begin to challenge me on a personal level as well. These first two weeks have already been intense, exciting and sometimes intimidating in the best possible way.
I am currently working with a creative studio on the development of a custom website for a furniture brand specialized in sofas and interior design products. From the very beginning, I was involved in both the visual and technical side of the project. I designed the logo for the brand and I am now helping to build the website itself. Since the site is entirely custom-made, every day becomes an opportunity to study, experiment and solve new problems.
One of the most stimulating aspects of these first days abroad has been exactly this: realizing how much there is still to learn, especially when working directly with code and digital interaction. Even though I already had some basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, this project is pushing me much further. I spend hours trying to understand how small details work, testing solutions, making mistakes and finding ways to improve them. It can be frustrating sometimes, but also incredibly rewarding. I feel like I am learning more through real practice than I could have imagined.
At the same time, this experience is also teaching me what it means to work inside a professional studio environment. During these first weeks we had an introductory meeting with the client, where we presented the initial direction of the project and discussed the identity of the brand. Next week we will have another presentation focused on the website development, and I will personally speak about part of the work.
Even if presenting creative projects is something I have already done before, this time feels different. I am not only representing myself: I am representing the studio and contributing to a real professional relationship with a client. That responsibility makes me nervous, but in a positive way. It pushes me to be more prepared, more precise and more confident in my ideas.
Beyond the professional side, these first 15 days have also been emotionally important. Moving abroad always means adapting to new rhythms, new habits and new ways of communicating. There are moments where everything feels exciting and inspiring, and others where you feel slightly lost or overwhelmed. But I think this is exactly the value of experiences like Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: they force you to grow through real situations, not only through theory.
What I appreciate most so far is the feeling of progression. Every day I discover something new — about design, about communication, about teamwork, but also about myself. I am starting to understand that growth often comes together with uncertainty, and that feeling uncomfortable sometimes simply means you are entering a new stage of learning.
These first two weeks have already confirmed to me that choosing to participate in this program was the right decision. I feel challenged, motivated and curious to see where the next months will lead me.