Lidia Piechota
I have devoted myself to INPUT for over 2 years. Now I think I get the point and I want more and more of it! But it wasn’t so obvious at the time it all started.
At first I was described as “a nice kid like in books for mothers,” as my mom used to say. Soon I became a handball player, then a basketball player and after breaking my ankle for the sixth time, I started to wonder what else I could do besides sports. Mom forbid me to kayak as I would have probably turned into a huge and muscular (wo)man, having sports genes inherited from my dad, who used to represent Poland in kayaking. To make a long story short, I became an English teacher as English lessons had been the only ones I just had to attend; our tutor was very wise and demanding. While in high school, I had a lot of free time so when I wasn’t playing basketball or just playing truant I fell in love with the radio. My best friend Olivia and I volunteered there and then our self-confidence was born. This feature was useful later when my naive character turned all my plans for life upside-down. Instead of steady teaching I left my hometown of Opole and moved to the east. There my television adventure started. I had nothing else to do so I did everything they allowed me to do – lighting, journalism, assisting, etc. And again shortening another long and complicated story I had to come back to Opole, where public TV burst into my already chaotic life.
“Rozkminka” (“Check it out!”) will always be my beloved “tv-baby.” This psychological program for youth caused almost everything, if you know what I mean. I was rewarded for the first part of it in a national contest, I was invited to a Mini INPUT because “Rozkminka” was the innovative face of TV (actually, it still is). Many people heard about me and of my way of ... hmm... being. I’m not sure what to call it as some of “the wiser” folks used to say I am too provocative or arrogant although I have never intended to be . It was just the enthusiasm of inexperience. I know now that I have learnt a lot since that time. At TVP Olsztyn I made a truly creative weather forecast show, i became a news presenter, I worked with one of the best Polish cameramen (kris, thank you for all those lessons!). I was finally able be myself in “Rozkminka” and other really cool reports not only for children’s audiences. I am really a program maker rather than a presenter despite the fact it’s not easy to make your own programmes for Polish TV.
Recently, a new chapter of my life has begun. I almost moved to Warsaw and left my beloved region of lakes and forests. Almost! I’ve definitely changed my priorities. TV is great, but yet it’s not all ... and surely it’s not my biggest love, although many things have happened thanks to it.
One more crucial thing I have learnt is “an angel-like patience,” as we say in Poland. If I have to wait in my professional life, I will take my time. As for Lidia in private I’m not so angelically calm, but this actually belongs in my beloved boyfriend Mike’s biography.
