Eleni Gkini is one of the successful alumni of the School’s recent history. An AFS High School graduate, she studied on a full scholarship through the “President’s Scholarships” program. Raised in Thessaloniki, her dream was to study abroad and she succeeded! For more than a year now, she has been living in the United States where she studies Neurobiology at Brown University on a full scholarship. She has also been working at the University’s Advancement Office, gaining experience and valuable knowledge.

We met her on campus during her summer vacation and we talked about her life as an American Farm School student. As the conversation went on, Eleni became more and more emotional. The stories about her life here are countless and all of them defined her as a person. As a student she couldn’t grasp the full meaning of the institution’s vision and mission. She realized it the day she had to leave campus and become an adult. She felt like losing her “home”. The teachers were her parents, guiding her and showing her the way to work methodically and within a team. “You won’t go far if you walk alone”, Mr. Malakozis, her Math teacher, told her one day and it is something she reminds herself every day. She was an honor roll student before she came to the School but, here, she learned to be humble and strong-minded at the same time. Being a volunteer at School’s events and other occasions, broaden her horizons and changed her perspective, while practical training taught her the value of manual work.

As an adult, she dreams of having a fulfilling job that she loves. As an Alumna, she is determined to always return and give back to the School.

                                                                                                        Zoe Vergou