University physicist

As the next stage of my education and life, I chose studies atthe Faculty of Technical Physics and Applied Mathematics at the Polytechnic of Lodz. However, I decided that I would not be an engineer, I have no knack for technical things. I decided to transfer to physics at the University of Lodz, as a science of nature and more closely related to mathematics. At that time, I was also tutoring high school students in mathematics and physics. I also met a few friends with whom I have contact until today, though there are not so many of them.

At the end of my studies, my mother fell ill. She suffered a stroke, lost her speech and the right side of her body was paralyzed. For this reason, my studies lasted longer, but in the end I graduated. My mother needed constant care, which my father and I provided. Unfortunately I am an only child so I had no help from siblings. 

Polish Academy of Science doctorate

After graduation, I worked for a short time as a supervisor of a computer lab at the physics department. At the university, my mentor offered me to get a PhD, which I accepted and started the research. Unfortunately, it didn't last long as exactly then the symptoms of the disease began. A PhD, sick mother, failures and misunderstandings in my personal life merged into one, and my mind couldn’t stand it.

I was taken to the hospital where I stayed for about three months. I did not finish my PhD at the University of Lodz but I got the information about the position of a physicist at the Center of Molecular and Macromolecular Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Lodz. I was supposed to do my doctorate in polymer physics there. I decided to change my surrounding. For the first two years it was tough and nothing came out of the research, but then the breakthrough came. I was exploring a modern, biodegradable and bio-renewable polymer material.

I was left alone

At that time, to make matters worse, my father fell ill with metastatic lung cancer. He lived for two more years from the moment of diagnosis. I was taking care of both of my parents. It wasn’t easy, but this time I didn’t give up. I defended my thesis and they gave me a PhD degree, which I am proud of, even more soas I took the oath during my PhD reception. However, I didn’t continue to work in the profession and left the Polish Academy of Sciences. At that moment I wasn’t able to conduct my habilitation. 

I found a job in a completely different field, after all, I could also work well on a computer. My new job was to create graphics for various pieces of furniture. I made a lot of new acquaintances there too. At that time, my mother died and I was left alone. Well, maybe not entirely, because at that time I met a new friend with whom we have been in contact for 11 years. 

Due to redundancies, I lost this job and did not know what to do next. I found out that I can apply for a disability pension. I collected the documents and on the commission I was admittedthe complete incapability of work. It was like that for 5 years. I was sitting in the apartment alone, so one of my friends from my previous job brought me a dog from the shelter. He is blind, but he has become my friend anyway.

Sunrises and sunsets

My spare time was filled with reading books about history and astronomy. I like to calculate several astronomical things, such as star sunrises and sunsets, transitions between different astronomical coordinates. I often solve tasks in physics so as not to forget everything. I dream about astronomical observations through a telescope, but it doesn’t seem to happen soon. 

After five years of the complete incapability of work, the Social Insurance Institution "healed" me and moved my status to partial incapability of work. As a result, my financial situation got worse. I decided to leave the house and start searching for a solution. I was assigned a moderate degree of disability and after some searching, I found myself at the Association of Friends of Disabled. 

During my practice in the Friends of Disabled Society, I started working at the The Residential Care Home in Zgierz. I remember that time very well, my responsibilities included, among others, creating employee work schedules and other office tasks. After the internship, a pleasant surprise awaited me. I was called to the center of the Friends of Disabled Society on the Staszica Street. I found out that I was going to be the assistant of the vice-chairman. I have been working here for over two years and I am satisfied. I have a lot of work, I work with the HR department and the office manager, but I also have the motivation to get up every day and come to work with new strength. I have new friends, we meet after work also. Relationships with people are very important to me.

Future

I hope that the disease won’t worsen my daily functioning. I dream about working for as many years as possible. Astronomy is still my passion and I would like to get to know about it more and more. They say there are more things to discover in astronomy than educated people to do it. Maybe some lonely planet is waiting to be discovered by me? When I retire, I would like to try my hand at the EC1 planetarium in Lodz. Is there anything else I dream about? ... I would love to see Florence again ... Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the marble Fountain of Neptune or the Goldsmiths’ Bridge.