Men's Volleyball | 8/11/2022 11:30:00 AM
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – Here at Cornerstone University, there is a wide range of international students that play a sport. Spanning over multiple countries that include some in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. We want to get to know more about them. In this series we asked a few questions and talking points that would help the Cornerstone community to understand more of the background and the culture where each of these student athletes are from.
Coming from the country of Poland in a small village named Milkowice, located on the Eastern part of Europe, is Hubert Sliwinski. Hubert is now headed into his sophomore year here at Cornerstone University where he plays for the men's volleyball team. Hubert started and played in all of Cornerstone's games last year where he led the team in attack percentage (.290) and in total blocks with 10 solo and 93 block assists. Hubert loves the game of volleyball, but his love for the game didn't start until he was in middle school.
For Hubert, sports were quite rough when growing up. "I did not like being active. I was a very clumsy kid who did not like competing with others," said Hubert. If it wasn't for his parents, he wouldn't be at Cornerstone playing volleyball today. His parents believed that playing a sport would help him in the long run to ensure well-being both mentally and physically, while being able to meet new people along the way. Hubert didn't start playing volleyball until middle school, where his dad introduced him to the game. Volleyball runs in the family, as it was passed down from his grandfather to his father, to now Hubert and his younger brother. By the time high school came around, Hubert knew he could finally play up to his age level. He knew he wanted to take on that next level.
Hubert not only wanted to expand his career by playing volleyball in the United States, but he also wanted to get a good education too. He found Cornerstone by seeing that they had a new volleyball program that supported their players as well as give them a great education. He felt welcomed as soon as he stepped foot on the campus, knowing that he made the correct decision in coming to Cornerstone.
Packing up your things and moving to the United States is no easy decision. Hubert leaves his parents and younger brother to come to Cornerstone to receive an education and play the sport that he loves. Hubert gives thanks to living in a modern world where technology gives us easier access to connect with family all over the world. "Obviously nothing compares to being with closest relatives in person, yet my parents have always said to me that they are ready to answer any call at any time for me. They give me the best love and support through this journey," said Hubert. Family really means everything.
There are still challenges that Hubert faces as he gets accustomed to the American lifestyle. Some of the biggest things he says is different in America, than Poland is that the people in America are way more outgoing and friendly. "Cashiers at a grocery store telling me "Hello, how are you?" is normal here, while if it happens in Poland, those people are considered exceptionally nice," says Hubert. Another thing that caught Hubert off guard was the communication between professors. In Poland, you would always need to address them by "Mr./Mrs." or "Professor" and if you did not, it was unacceptable. Where in America, it is a little bit more laxed at the point where you can refer to them as "you" or their first names. When it comes down to the basis of religion, Hubert hasn't had that many problems adjusting to it. Hubert grew up in a Catholic country, where it is hard to find other religions. "The way that we worship is a little different," says Hubert. "Catholics have much more instructions to what worshipping in masses should look like. Where Christians have more freedom when it comes to worshipping. Which is why I felt so welcomed here even though I have a different denomination" Hubert's favorite verse is 1 Corinthians 3:8, "The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their labor."
Coming into his second year at Cornerstone, Hubert is excited for the opportunity to continue to grow as a scholar and a volleyball player. Hubert gives all his thanks and praises to his family for the support they have given him throughout this journey. Hubert doesn't know exactly what his dream is, but he wants to enjoy finishing out his college career and find a job that he loves doing every day. To the student who are nervous or anxious about the move from home to the United States, Hubert has this to say – "Don't be afraid to go out into the world. There are way more genuine people out there than what you would expect that are willing to help you. If you keep a positive attitude, work hard, and be grateful for what you get, you will be able to overcome any obstacle. If you are nervous about your English, it will improve immensely the more you use it every day and people are here to help you. Take that next step that could change your life for the better."
Contact: Jesse Campbell | nathan-jesse.campbell@cornerstone.edu | 616-222-1505
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