March 1, 2007

Name: Tassos Varellas

Age: 21

I am from: Thessaloniki, Greece

My major is: Finance at ACT and Political Science at Aristoteleio

Semester: 3rd at ACT and 6th at Aristoteleio

Why I chose this particular major: Finance and Political Science have always been my two significant interests. Finance is obviously a precious asset for anything one does in a lifetime. Political Science gives a broad spectrum of the past, the present and the imminent future of a country that -as Karamanlis Senior said- wins in wars and loses in peace…

Why I chose ACT: ACT is really a big asset for Thessaloniki and for the Anatolia community. Having graduated from the Anatolia B’ High School and having been involved with my alma mater ever since, my transfer from the university I was attending at Boston to ACT was one of the best decisions I have taken in my life. In the first place, my decision to utilize the credits I acquired in the US was due to the long and dreadful so-called “occupation” of my school at Aristoteleio last summer. There are obviously some people there who still believe that the Greek educational system needs further disintegration... ACT is a school where you can get a professional high-level education. The administrators and the professors of ACT are devoted to the school, committed to their job, always come to class and are never on strike! A good half of the students here are aware of their goals, their perspective and their future. There is no political intervention in the educational process; the campus environment is inspiring, clean and at least decent. There are no “occupations”, no “asylum”, no anarchists and no missed months and years of our lives…

The one thing I would change at ACT: To start with a joke, I want ACT to implement the “academic quarter” of the Greek university!!! Trying to be more serious, I believe ACT could play a much more active role in Thessaloniki, in Northern Greece and -why not?- in the Balkans in general. It could be more extroverted, more gregarious, more affiliated with the local society. And its name: Anatolia Business School and Anatolia School of Arts, Sciences & Technology would sound so much better!

The classes I never skip: Sociology and Economics: Dr.Gratale and Dr.Hourvouliades manage to keep an amazing balance between the Greek and the American educational system. They are simultaneously connecting two different educational worlds: the professionalism, the efficiency, the competence and the organization of an American university with the intellectuality, the academic environment, the demeanour, the fine laxity and the humanism of the Greek university.

When I’m on campus and don’t have a class, I like: Helping various extra-curricular activities of the Anatolia College High School, using the computer labs and the Bissell Library and -unfortunately quite rarely- drinking the best Freddo Cappuccino in town (patiently prepared by Mr. Babis) on that amazing porch of the cafeteria!

When I grow up, I want to be: A university or high school professor, a professional role model. And an amateur broker. Oh, and an air force pilot - but I guess it’s too late!

I usually go out to: Paradosiako, Tre Marie and Social. They offer an enticing environment during the day, while Shark and Lusitania are the best choices for serene and relaxing evenings!

From all ACT professors, I would go out with: Nicola Kondoyiannis! But I am pretty sure I will be late for our appointment…It is not that I am always late for her class, but rumour has it she uses the Greenwich Mean Time that is always two hours earlier that GMT+2…

My favourite movie: I guess there are lots of them that I like but “Politiki Kouzina” is by far my favourite.

My favourite color: Oh well… Perhaps blue.

My hobbies: Skiing at winter and all those water sports during the summer!

My biggest wish for 2007: Health, above all. More romantically, I guess, I want to see the Hellenic Republic developing and making some steps forward… I want to see a small portion of light at the end of the tunnel, the tunnel of ineffectiveness, corruption at all levels, permanent stagnation and immense mediocrity.