Marika comes from Poland and she's a very experienced volunteer, her last trip: Kragujevac for the 2011 European Universities Volleyball Championship.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
I'm Marika Miller. I come from Poland. My hometown is Częstochowa but I am living now in Warsaw. I am doing 1st year of master programme in international relations at Warsaw University and working in Cubiware, an IT company, as office assistant. I love sport. I used to play volleyball. I like also swimming, fitness and table-tennis. I love also travelling! New places, new architecture, new people- something amazing!
How did you learn about the European Universities Championships and about the volunteer program?
My adventure with European University Championships started when my friends from high school won the Polish Volleyball University Championship and they told me that they would represent our country at the EUC in Warsaw [2010], so i decided to take part in this event, to be the part of this event by helping organisers. I wrote to AZS , they answered that they needed help, so I worked at the event as Polish team assistant. EUC in Warsaw was so great that I was sure I would do everything to be next year on EUC in Serbia and i did it. Thanks to Marko Petrovic, one of the organisers I could go to Serbia as a Russian team assistant.
Why did you decide to apply as a volunteer?
I decided to apply as a volunteer because it is something special for me. If I could say what gives me in my life the biggest satisfaction I definitely say that being volunteer on sports events. I had amazing moments, I met great people, I learnt how to be independent, how to cope with stress. I used and improved my language skills. The atmosphere during the matches is unique. I had the best moments of my life during these events!
Did you like the events you took part in?
I really like events I took part in (both 2010 and 2011 EUC Volleyball as well as other events like world championships in short-track, special Olympic Games). I did many interesting things; I was supporting teams, talking with all people, partying. We still have contact with each other. I think I now have friendships that will last for all my life.
What were you actually doing on these two events?
On these two events I was team assistant in Warsaw – Polish team assistant, in Serbia – Russian team assistant. I was translating, cooperating between trainer and organisers, I helped players to get to different places, I showed them town and solved all problems they could face.
What are the good points of being a volunteer on EUC?
Good points. Well, first of all- learning how to be independent, how to fight with stress, involving languages that is very useful in your future. Of course meeting new people who you know for all your life (last year after the EUC I went to Belgium to visit friends I met at the championship). You can watch very good players - matches are amazing and what is important: the atmosphere during matches is impressive!
Anything more you want to share to convince people they should go as volunteer on European Universities Championships?
What I want to add about being a volunteer: it gives you a big experience, teaches you a lot of things, and makes you more creative. It gives you a chance to show what you can do. For couple of days, you feel important, you know you are a part of this event, you create it. You have the adventure of your life especially if you go abroad. Memories that stay after EUC are so important for me. I wish everybody to have as good moments as me in their life and EUC is one of the best options for having great time.
Thank you so much for sharing this experience and we wish you to have many other positive volunteering experiencing within EUSA or any other sports organisations !