Poros High School at Euroscola 2020
Martha Nikolaidou is the student that will represent Poros High School at Euroscola 2020. Student Martha Nikolaidou, won the 3rd place in the Euroscola student competition and belongs to the 24 students who will represent the Attica Regional Education Directorate in the meeting in Strasbourg, on February 27th, 2020.
A few words about Euroscola
At each Euroscola, about 500 teenagers, prepared in their schools, gather at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg:
- to familiarize themselves with the functioning of European institutions,
- to become aware of the role they will be called upon to play in the future organization of Europe,
- to realize the need to defend democracy and the fundamental rights,
- to find a forum to express their personal views and make use of their desire to give back.
The European Parliament has created the Euroscola training program in order to meet the above youth needs. Youth are involved in European dialogue and gain the experience of European diversity and solidarity.
The students who manage to pass the competition based on the criteria requested, meet in Strasbourg. A European Youth Parliament, organized several times a year, enables students to exchange views, get to know each other and give a direction to their responsibilities.
Apart from Martha, two students from Spetses High school, Michaela Fourarnakou and Naya Stanathiotis, won 5th and 11th place in the competition.
“MPs for a day”
High school principal Rea Collentzou, who spoke to us at “All about secondary education” article, ran the program and made Poros High School at Euroscola 2020 center. She told us how happy she felt that the children were so actively involved.
“This year we managed to make such a big center, with children from Poros, Spetses, Galatas and Methana. Martha managed to come in at third place and the two children from Spetses came in at 5th and 11th place. The Ministry of Education is responsible for all children expenses, tickets, accommodation, nutrition, travel. So, on February 26th-28th, our children are so lucky to go to Strasbourg, like the rest of the children, from all over the world. They will gather at the European Parliament and become MPs for a day. Our Martha had also participated last year and succeeded in becoming the runner-up. This year, with her past experience, her hard work and her efforts, she managed to come in at the 3rd place.
The subject of Euroscola is given 2 to 3 months beforehand and the children work mostly alone, with a teacher as a counselor-mentor. But their success is theirs and theirs alone.
Even if I leave, I wish for this institution to remain at our school, it is important for our children to set goals and reach them.”
“You never know when you will succeed”
Martha Nikolaidou, who represents Poros High School at Euroscola 2020, in the third grade now, and under the pressure of university entry exams, conveys her experience to us.
“I had entered the contest last year as well and had come in a runner-up. I tried again this year, although more hesitant, because I also have the exams. I didn’t know if I would be able to prepare the subject, to write the essay. I was, and still am, quite busy this year. I wasn’t sure, I didn’t want to go, I felt I didn’t have enough time. It was the Principal who encouraged me to give it a go.
When my parents told me I had passed, I didn’t believe it. Especially when I saw I was third, I found it incredible. The truth is that I won’t realize it until I’m there. I’m so happy, I can’t describe it, I’m proud because all this is thanks to my hard work.
I may have not felt ready on the particular day, but it’s years of efforts and they are ultimately being rewarded.
Finally, what I really wanted to say to the children is to not avoid competitions like these. It helps them psychologically in their great struggle for the university entry exams to go through such stressful situations. Also, opportunities are given and you never know when you will succeed. With their participation alone, they have gained so much. You learn a lot, you meet other participants, you exchange points of view, it’s a beautiful experience.”
