This piece includes members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn. I’m illustrating humanity’s value for art, music, literature, and passion. When a performer such as Hahn performs with an orchestra, the music is not only hers, but the orchestra’s; not only the orchestra’s, but ours as an audience. There’s a declining appreciation for this art form, and a truly immersive, intentful listen to something like Sibelius’ Violin Concerto can appreciate its worth once more.

My father is a very proud Greek who grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He and my mother moved to this town before I was born. He works in the city as an orthopedic surgeon. My mother was once a flight attendant. She made sure I saw many places in the world. Thanks to her, I’ve had the experiences of visiting multiple countries in Europe. However, I still hear about my father and mother’s adventures and hope to make similar ones soon. I like philosophy, music, literature, and art. I also have appreciated math from a very young age. I like preserving certain traditions over others, inviting complexities, and inciting debates. However, I hold disdain for ideals that forget about our basic responsibilities as humans, to improve life for humanity and that which supports it. I dislike a lack of etiquette or politeness, a lack of consideration, and I most certainly dislike irreverence. For more tangible things, I dislike many sports except for tennis, and I like to play the violin. I don’t exactly know what I want to be when I grow up. A future career may align with academia and philosophy, or in medicine as a surgeon like my father. I may take over his practice.