Thorodis Loukataris, 13 years old, Thessaloniki, Greece
The Roma child from Dendropotamos who is now a student of Private American College of Thessaloniki “Anatolia”!
Theodoris Loukataris, a Roma thirteen years old boy, won by his sword a scholarship at the Private American College of Thessaloniki “Anatolia” and is now a student at the first grade of high school.
Theodoris, excited and anxious at the same time, states that nothing was granted to him. “Previously I didn’t even know that there was such a school or that we (Roma) could get a scholarship to the college. When the School Director told me that I can give exams I said that I will do my best to get into the collage” says.
The road to success wasn’t easy. Theodoris was considered one of the best primary school pupils of Dendropotamou- also was the flag bearer of school-but soon he realized that the requirements of getting into a College are much greater. “For me it was very difficult because the other guys were way ahead. I did my best; I read and was being helped by my school teacher and teachers of “Light House of the world”. I was prepared well enough in English, too (as the exams were in English language) and finally, I succeed” he said.
Theodoris and his “family” of the “Light House of the world” had some concerns about the unknown and inaccessible for a Roma child regarding his acceptance in schools due to his diversity. “People I knew told me that people from wealthy families usually go in Colleges. So, I had anxiety about what I would meet, but then I realized that there are other children like me at collage, who are on a scholarship. I made friends from the beginning and we help each other. Also, the teachers knew me, even before I go, and helped me a lot. ”
“I was very good at lessons in elementary, but I understand that as a school class we (at Dendropotamos) were far behind compared to other schools. I’m good at gymnastics and mathematics, however, in my new school, I want to do well even in the subjects in which I was a mess. I want to work hard to get better” said Theodoris.
He also decided to stay at the Anatolia College facilities, apart from his family of “Light House of the world” in which he spent the tender years of his childhood, when he was removed from a problematic environment.
Two years ago, the Robotics Competition and Innovation First Lego League was held for the first time in our country. FAR.GO.Bots, the team from the “Light House of the world’, of which Theodoris was a member, won the first prize of teamwork. This visit to the US was enough to make Theodosis to envision the future. “I have not yet chosen what I would do, but what I do know is that I would like to go and live somewhere else, somewhere far away.” Theodoris claimed. Perhaps, Anatolia College is only the first step of Theodoris to achieve his final goal.
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