What does Campion mean to you?
Campion years were by far the best school years for me! Although not many (1982-1985) I can only recall those wonderful Ekali days as high school memories. For sure the school, my professors, my friends and classmates have influenced my choices and my life path thereafter.
Of course in an international school you are taught multi-ethnicity and by default this will allow you to learn adaptability and flexibility in life. However in my opinion what I found to be the strongest message acquired from these years in Campion was the mentality which was ‘’ we are all equal, we don’t care who has more or less money, we don’t care whose parents are divorced or not, we don’t care who is fat, thin, short, tall, in here we are all the same: children’’ This allowed us all to be free and choose our friends with our hearts and I believe that this is the reason that so many of us still keep in touch and love each other genuinely. We were taught how to find and aim for our goals; achieve them and then aim for the next goal; no matter where your goals take you, always stay humble, because you will have to learn and achieve so much more in life from so many different people.
I thank them all for these lessons; they still guide me through life…
What A-level subjects did you take and what were your favourite subjects?
I didn’t. I left after completing 12th grade, completing O-levels in order to attend ULB (Bruxelles) medical school.
What were some lasting highlights from your experience at Campion?
Highlights… Wow… there are so many but as I think of them … not so many I can share hahaha but I’ll give you the setting :
- Plays and shows/ musicals: What a blessing. How lucky were we indeed, only now do I completely comprehend. The energy, the team spirit, the professionalism shown by both the teachers and the students. I participated in a few but the one I remember the most is Grease.
- School trips (all of them): So much fun. We bonded, we learned, we discovered.
- Forensics, our amazing Trampoline and the team, playing tennis during lunch hour, hanging around the canteen, laughter, laughter, laughter.
- My experience in Campion is one huge highlight in my life!! I am fortunate enough to still have many of my dear Campion friends in my life.
What did you study and where?
I got my degree in Psychology at Hunter College, New York State University and then a Master’s degree in Counseling and Organizational Psychology at Teacher’s College, Columbia University.
I returned to school once more in order to earn a post-masters degree in Attention Deficit Disorder for children and adolescents from the Kapodistrian University of Athens – Department of Child Psychiatry
What has your work experience been
I began working at the age of nineteen in Sales and Marketing in publishing. When I moved to New York I continued working in the same field in the Hotel Business. My final position was Sales and Marketing Director for two hotels in New York. I went to College while working, so when I completed my studies, I resigned and proceeded to focus more on my studies.
For the past twenty years I keep my personal practice as a therapist and I am also an HR consultant and International Trainer for multinational companies both in Greece and abroad.
Tell us a bit about your personal life since leaving school
I live in Greece now, I have three children, a fifteen year old boy, a 13 year old boy and an 11 year old daughter. I am blessed with wonderful friends and I try to spend as much time as I can with them as well. As a family, we like to travel and learn through experiences.
Any tips for students, or parents and teachers?
If I was to give a life tip to the current students it would be to actively listen. Listen to everyone, anyone. Then evaluate what you have heard along your life. Keep the lessons that people freely give away. Make your own through these and your experiences. Be humble. Never lay back. Be on your toes. Learn something new every day. Offer because it feels good.
Be grateful for everything you have and for everything you don’t have.
