My name is Inganora Makko and I am a 12th grade student at Tarvastu Upper Secondary School in Viljandi County. I am an active member of the student representative board; I enjoy folk dancing and overall try to actively participate in different things. One fun fact is that I am originally from Setomaa but am currently living in Mulgimaa.
How would you describe your life experience so far?
My journey so far could be described as a rollercoaster ride or by the song lyrics ‘üles-alla juuksed valla’ (lit. ‘up and down with my hair loose’). Each moment has been an adventure in itself, but it would take too much time to talk about all of them. On my journey, I have made some good and bad, some successful and not so successful, decisions and steps. All these decisions and steps are what has brought me here, to this very moment.
What drives you to act?
What motivates me the most is the feeling of outdoing myself, making someone else happy or sometimes even the feeling of completing something very easy. All the emotions and the feeling of joy I get from completing something makes me want to do even more. Of course, other people’s words of praise and support also motivate me, and it is in these moments that I feel I am loved and doing the right thing.
What makes you happy?
The people around me make me happy. All my loved ones, friends, and family. When I’m tired or feel down, they are there to support me with their words and actions, and that warms my heart and makes me feel loved. Pine forests and nature in general also make me happy. In my previous home, I was surrounded by pine forests. It made me feel at peace and gave me an opportunity to let go of all my worries.
What are you grateful for?
This is a difficult question to answer. I am grateful for absolutely everything that has ever touched me. A bright star in the night sky that made me smile, the opportunity to participate in Changemakers Academy, all the tiny choices I or someone else made for me – I am grateful for everything. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t made certain choices in the past. Yes, they may have seemed like wrong choices at the time, but now they don’t feel so wrong. Above all, I am grateful for my parents because it is thanks to them, I have been able to live such a rich and meaningful life. They have made it possible for me to participate in every programme and event that I had the opportunity to participate in. To a certain extent, I also must be grateful for myself or, more specifically, for my inner self. Without my inner self, I wouldn’t have made the choices I have made so far or that I will probably make in the future.
How did you find inner balance?
I haven’t found perfect inner balance yet. It takes time. Every week, I try to find a few moments for myself, to reflect and analyse my inner being. What I am feeling at that moment, what I felt the day before or during a certain situation – these are the questions I ask myself and how I find myself. It gives me balance and strength to move forward. Sometimes it is also important to fully disconnect and recharge. I do this by going to a pine forest or a bog. This gives me an opportunity to spend some time without having to worry about anything and just enjoy the moment.
Which changes have been the most important to you so far?
The biggest change took place when I moved six years ago. This change broadened my horizons and made me understand situations in a different way. The most significant change is the time I have invested in myself. At one point I realised that if I don’t take the lead, I won’t get to do anything. I started to look for ways to improve myself, to find potential in myself to do things and so on.
What inspires you?
My answer to this question is like the one I gave to the question ‘What drives you to act?’. The answer is basically the same. Happiness and the joy of doing things inspire me. I also find inspiration in nature, for example, sometimes the sound of rainfall inspires me to do something great.
What have been the biggest challenges you have faced? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge for me has been to try and not let other people’s negative comments get under my skin. I am no longer bothered by these comments and I don’t care what others think of me. I am a very emotional person and I tend to bottle up all the sadness, anger, and other negative emotions inside myself until I can no longer cope with them. As I grew older, I started to realise that the mental terror I was experiencing was not of my own doing. Instead, it was the people who made these comments that showed an interest in my actions, meaning they cared about my actions. Even though they give me negative feedback, it is clear that they are interested.
Which activities help you feel better in your daily life?
I must admit I don’t have an immediate answer to that question. The first thing that came to mind was my routine: making my bed after waking up, brushing my teeth, and writing a to-do list of all the important tasks. That way, I can see everything I have to do and, once I finish a task, I can cross it off my list which makes me feel good.
Based on your experience, where should people start to create a full life and a healthy lifestyle?
You should start with yourself – look inside yourself to understand your own thoughts, behaviour, and choices. It is also good to write down your thoughts, ideas, and experiences, even if they are negative. Doing so will allow you to use them for your own benefit in the future or give you motivation to act. Of course, it is important to remember that nothing happens instantly: discovering yourself and moving towards a full life is not always a walk in the park, you may encounter some obstacles on your way. However, obstacles can be crossed, and dreams don’t have to remain just dreams. Be consistent and have some faith in yourself!
Interviewed by Maris Praats, Coordinator of the Content Creation and Collaboration Team of the youth information portal Teeviit.
Published in the youth information portal Teeviit in 2022.
