Like solving puzzles? Greek syntax is the real deal! What first drew me to Greek was the way every sentence fits together with such precision, almost like pieces in a mosaic. I greatly appreciate the unique clarity and elegance of its sentences because of their balanced structure, and the flexibility of word placement makes the language capable of expressing complex ideas with remarkable subtlety and nuance.

Later on, I discovered that Latin and Greek were doorways into the ancient world, almost like a time machine that takes me back more than 2000 years. I felt a thrill in discovering that despite the distance between us and the ancients, we are very much interested in the same questions. What is Justice? What is the good life? What makes a society flourish? Examining what makes us so different and similar at the same time is a very rewarding process.

I think it’s also important to show students the relevance of Classics in today’s world, how ancient ideas still shape our present, and how we can’t fully understand today without looking back. For example, people need to know the role Cicero played in the founding of America! His writings on republican government, civic duty, and the balance between liberty and authority were read and quoted by the Founding Fathers. The concepts of American government we see in the Constitution, such as checks and balances, can be traced back to Cicero and his Roman ideas. Thus, ancient thoughts continue to be a crucial part of the intellectual DNA of today’s world.

For me, Plato has been my favorite author. Through his portrayal of Socrates, I’ve come to appreciate the power of questioning. Furthermore, I see Socratic dialogue as a gift that the ancients left for us to help us tackle the obstacles of today’s world by challenging our own assumptions and bridging our divides by sharing a collective search for truth.

By Tom, Milton Academy student