On February 11, Athens College Elementary School was honored to host Aria Papanikolaou, who was invited by the English Department to speak to all Elementary School Grade 5 students about her life on the autism spectrum.

The event was opened by her father, Greek basketball legend Dimitris Papanikolaou, who shared his own experience as a person on the autism spectrum and gave valuable life advice to our students, underlining the importance of acceptance and power hidden in diversity.

Aria’s inspiring and fascinating speech was given in the context of the PYP Interdisciplinary Theme "Who We Are”, which encourages students to explore and respect diversity in all aspects of life.

Aria shared her experiences sincerely and lively, highlighting the importance of kindness, respect and accepting each person’s uniqueness. At the same time, she emphasized the vital role of education in supporting diversity and cultivating empathy.

Students listened with a lot of interest, asked meaningful questions and participated in a discussion that deepened their understanding on inclusion and acceptance. At the end of the speech, they gave Aria their warmest applause, while many children rushed to hug her, expressing the deep connection that was fostered with this unique experience in the most spontaneous way. 

This special experience left a mark on all of our hearts, strengthening our commitment to creating a school that embraces diversity and promotes respect and understanding.

We would like to deeply thank the Papanikolaou family for their valuable presence and the inspiration they gave us.