During my final years of secondary school, I did not give much thought to my future career. It was only towards the end of this period that I began to seriously consider how I could combine my passion for sports—especially high-performance sports—with a professional perspective. My goal was to support professional athletes in optimizing their performance, which led me to decide to study sports science at the renowned German Sport University Cologne.

To be admitted to this program, an arduous aptitude test is required, demanding extensive preparation. When I became aware of the Federal Voluntary Service position (BFD) at the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB), I recognized it as an ideal opportunity: on one hand, I could gain valuable insights into the work of a major sports federation; on the other hand, it offered me the chance to focus my preparation for the aptitude test.

During my time at the DTTB in Frankfurt, I was able to contribute to various areas and gather new experiences, including:

• Supporting the “Spiel-mit!” campaign
• Public relations and communication
• Insights into accounting
• Participation in major events like the German Open
• Work in the high-performance sports sector

Parallel to my work at the DTTB, I underwent intensive training to prepare optimally for the Sportwissenschaften aptitude test. My weekly routine included:

• 1 swimming session
• 2 gym units
• 1–2 gymnastics training sessions
• And of course, my hobby: 2 table tennis trainings per week plus competitions

At the end of this period, I draw an extremely positive conclusion. The Bundesfreiwilligendienst at the DTTB was a highly instructive and exciting experience for me.