I had spent hours strolling on the narrow bridge, watching the pearl-white water lilies gracefully floating in Monet’s pond. Swimming in the uncharted depths of the ocean, I would slip through coral caverns, passing rocky walls festooned with delicate anemones. Each puzzle I finished felt like a magic carpet, hauling me away from the normalcy of my bedroom. Border pieces had to be joined. Pieces had to be grouped. I soaked in the colors, patterns, textures, trying to establish...

Within and among countries, extreme disparities still exist in access to education and healthcare. People are excluded from opportunities and basic services, essentially refused the hope of a better life. Universal political, economic, and social policies are needed, particularly concentrated on the needs of disadvantaged, marginalized, and displaced communities.

442BC, Dionysus theater under the Acropolis: first performance of Antigone. During Athens’s Golden Age, Sophocles presented the first strong female character in theatrical history. With a name meaning “born to oppose”, the young heroine challenged conventional wisdom in a male-dominated society by standing up for timeless morals against the arbitrary.

Motivated by the interests kindled during my USC-Neurogenetics Institute internship, I look forward to getting involved in the groundbreaking research pursued at the interface between disciplines by the Stanford Neurosciences Institute. I am fascinated by research like Professor Malenka’s on the brain’s synaptic plasticity, its mechanisms, and implications for behavior.

I would stroll through rural roads, city streets, suburban boulevards to truly see the world around me, the natural and built environment, the people. In these liberating moments, I would explore the magic in the ordinary space outside, freeing my senses and mind to carefully observe, notice, make unexpected connections.

I peer into the USC-Neurogenetics lab microscope, navigating the bold patchwork: pericytes in fiery red, tangled amongst the infinite blue mesh of neurons. I immerse myself into the endless fractal, exploring the paths of memory across the mouse’s brain. I rotate and reflect the microscope image on my computer screen, until I cannot distinguish its initial orientation. In its intrinsic complexity and randomness, the medley of neurons elicits a beautiful symmetry. The pattern looks familiar. My mind rewinds to...

My dear roommate, Growing up, my family consisted of my parents and books, scattered on every surface of our home. I have no siblings, so this domestic relationship of ours will be as close as it gets –and I’m beyond excited. Here’s a few things you should know about me: I’m a seamless blend of an introvert and extrovert. Occasionally, you might find me daydreaming, jotting down my thoughts in my diary. But at times, you are...

Three years ago, the conflict in Syria swept an unprecedented wave of refugees to Greece. Through my xeniusnet platform, I wanted to connect young newcomers and native students. In my mind’s eye, my conviction guaranteed everyone else would embrace my platform too. But presentations at schools and conferences with the xeniusnetteam, articles, interviews, and even the platform’s distinction at the WSA-Young Innovators proved inadequate. Then, there was the language barrier and the notorious wall of Greek bureaucracy. I...

I glanced over thirteen-year-old Mohamed’s shoulder as he submitted a mathematics question through his father’s smartphone. It was one of my regular meetings with young refugees to familiarize them with my Xeniusnet platform, which supports refugee education and social integration through peer collaboration. Since conceiving the idea as a 14-year-old, I have worked hard to make the project flourish, organizing presentations, demonstrations, and personal meetings. Working with refugees provides a lens for me; it enables me to approach...

Peering into the USC Neurogenetic Institute’s lab microscope, I observed the infinite blue mesh of neurons, scattered with red pericytes. I rotated and reflected the microscope image on my computer screen, until I couldn’t distinguish its initial orientation. In its intrinsic complexity, the endless fractal of neurons elicited a beautiful symmetry. The pattern looked familiar. My mind rewound to my SUMaC course notes on Group Theory: a page with wallpaper patterns classified according to their symmetries. I was...

A life-giving and light-giving environment, alive with constant conversation and debate, this community is a place where students delve into interdisciplinarity to tip the balance of the status quo. It is a community of doers, not watchers, equally inspired by Sophocles’ Antigone –standing up for timeless morals against the arbitrary– and Feynman’s lectures on the most profound questions of science and life. It cherishes intellectual freedom, spurring experiential learning and encouraging students to explore worlds beyond the walls of...

Housed in Columbia’s Library is Plimpton 322, a famed 3700-year-old cuneiform clay tablet holding an example of Babylonian mathematics. It exemplifies what incited my exploration of the early history of mathematics in Ancient Greece and Babylon, leading me to write a book. Navigating the paths of thought of ancient mathematicians, I realized the contrasting yet complementary natures of the two civilizations. As a Greek, I admire the pure art of mathematics, how, like music, poetry, painting, it sparks creativity, eliciting...

Ever fascinated by problem-solving, I love catalyzing discovery by crossing the boundaries between disciplines. Applying my strength in math to innovating scientific solutions has become my passion. Growing up in an academic family of engineers exposed me early on to the rigid yet compelling world of scientific thinking. I developed my own while training for the European Science Olympiad, carrying out experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology. Participating in mathematical competitions and attending the four-week Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC),...

Studying Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech would offer me the solid and invaluable background in the sciences I seek, along with a deep awareness of their applications to world around me. The outstanding research opportunities at Georgia Tech would help me develop my innovation and entrepreneurship abilities. My goal is to acquire a diverse foundation, through Georgia Tech’s academically rigorous program, encompassing signal processing, digital design, circuit analysis, microelectronic circuits, and electromagnetics. This would enable me to expand my...

Three years ago, the conflict in Syria swept an unprecedented wave of refugees to Greece. Motivated by my eagerness to find and apply digital solutions to social problems, I created my Xeniusnet platform to connect young newcomers with local students in order to support refugee education and social integration. I recruited teachers who volunteered their time to ensure the quality of students online exchanges, as well as a team of keen software developers who backed the entire implementation of the...

What excites me most about learning are the potential blends of opposing yet interlinked theories and approaches. In mathematics, I revel both in the creativity it inspires and its practical extensions. (My research into the contrasting yet complementary natures of ancient Greek and Babylonian mathematics led me to write a book last year). Studying at UPenn would encourage me to continue in this vein. The notion of integrating and applying knowledge to build bridges between disciplines exemplifies UPenn’s philosophy...

I soaked in the range of colors, patterns, textures, trying to join border pieces, to establish connections. I challenged myself with ever more sophisticated puzzles. I refined my tactics to turn the daunting chaos into harmonious order. Order appeared in separate areas, evolved independently around seed pieces, growing, region by region. Gradually, I came to view my life through jigsaw-shaped spectacles: every aspect fits into the puzzle that is my life. Some pieces seem to have sprung out of nowhere:...

I peer into the USC-Neurogenetics lab microscope, navigating the bold patchwork: pericytes in fiery red, tangled amongst the infinite blue mesh of neurons. I immerse myself into the endless fractal, exploring the paths of memory across the mouse’s brain. I rotate and reflect the microscope image on my computer screen, until I cannot distinguish its initial orientation. In its intrinsic complexity and randomness, the medley of neurons elicits a beautiful symmetry. My mind rewinds to my SUMaC course notes:...

Three years ago, the surge of refugees to Greece reached unprecedented levels due to the conflict in Syria. At fourteen, when I had conceived the idea for my xeniusnet platform, everything seemed clear-cut. I wanted to build a community to link young refugee newcomers to Greece with native students. In my mind’s eye, my conviction guaranteed everyone else would embrace my platform too. But presentations at schools and conferences with the xeniusnet team, online articles, interviews, even the platform�...

In 11th grade, I was selected as part of my school’s four-member team for the European Science Olympiad (EUSO). Practicing six hours a week for three months, we carried out experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology, realizing the true value of collaboration. I entered the Panhellenic Physics competition and ranked second nationally. Gradually, I trained myself to understand complex problems in physics and mathematics by visualizing real-world examples. I witnessed the power of mathematics in Computer Science as I...

Ever fascinated by problem-solving, I love catalyzing discovery by interdisciplinary work. My academic and extracurricular undertakings have fueled my passion for applying my strength in math to innovating scientific solutions. This was further developed through research projects in neuroscience and biomedical device development and other initiatives. Studying Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke will offer me the deep awareness of the sciences and their applications that I seek. The rigorous program of the Pratt School of Engineering will immerse me...

Three years ago, moved by the unprecedented wave of refugees swept from war-torn Syria to Greece, living in limbo, their children’s education disrupted, I created Xeniusnet, an online educational platform through which students like me could mentor young refugees every day. Through participating in a UNESCO conference, I realized that education would be a crucial component of the integration process for hundreds of thousands of these migrants. Aware of my classmates’ eagerness to help those facing hardship, I formed...

The collaborative culture of the Thayer School would provide a nexus for my broad interests: I’d complement my studies in Electrical Engineering with courses in biomedical imaging and neural engineering. I am drawn to Thayer’s project-based curriculum, from the introductory classes to the final Capstone project. Thayer’s small classes, ambitious student body and inspiring professors would create an intimate and stimulating atmosphere at a school offering unmatched access to research and internship opportunities. Four years of interdisciplinary...

I glanced over thirteen-year-old Mohamed’s shoulder as he submitted a mathematics question using a borrowed smartphone. This was one of my meetings with young refugees to familiarize them with my Xeniusnet platform, which supports refugee education and social integration through peer collaboration. Since conceiving the idea at 14, I’ve organized presentations, workshops and tutoring sessions to make the project flourish. Working with refugees provides a lens for me to understand approach their point of view, realize their needs and...

Three years ago, the conflict in Syria swept an unprecedented wave of refugees to Greece. Through my Xeniusnet platform, I wanted to connect young newcomers and local students. In my mind’s eye, my conviction guaranteed everyone else would embrace my platform too. But presentations at schools and conferences with the Xeniusnet team, articles, interviews, and even the platform’s distinction at the WSA-Young Innovators proved inadequate. Then, there was the language barrier and the notorious wall of Greek bureaucracy. ...

Growing up in an academic family of engineers, exposed me early on to the rigid yet fascinating world of scientific thinking and problem-solving, initiating my passion for engineering. In electrical engineering, I find a nexus for my genuine interest in mathematics, physics, and computer science. I like the challenge and the call on the imagination, the interconnection of different disciplines to tackle complex problems. Working at the National Technical University of Athens on creating an arterial pulsation energy harvesting device...

Through studying electrical/biomedical engineering in college, I aspire to gain a deeper awareness of the sciences and the world around me. My goal is to acquire a diverse background encompassing circuit and chip design, control systems, bio-systems and bio-signal analysis, imaging and imaging informatics, and systems bioengineering. I hope to nurture my creativity, through being exposed to exciting technology and innovations in areas such as neuro-engineering, embedded systems, Machine Learning, medical devices and implants, and nanotechnology. The broad background...

Unraveling the algorithms hidden in the brain and transferring this knowledge to different areas, through building artificial systems that work the same way, would open up countless possibilities. We have at our disposal the necessary computational power to emulate the complexity of the human brain; all that is needed is to reverse-engineer the brain. There has never been a better time to do so, given the renaissance in imaging and the availability of advanced physiological and genetic technologies enabling us...