Michael Ioannou

I’ve spent my whole life in Northern New Jersey, and despite the jokes others may make about my home state, I’ve always known it combines the best of many worlds. We get all the good food (like pizza and bagels) and successful sports teams (go Yankees!) of New York without the pressure or crowds of a big city. Growing up in a diverse town, I got the chance to learn and spend time with a variety of cultures, which helped make me more curious and understanding of others. I’m also thankful for my caring parents and my brother, as much as I complained about being a twin my entire childhood. 

 

My Eckardt experience got off to a pretty incredible start, as my freshman seminar got the chance to go see Hamilton (with the original cast) just as it was becoming a phenomenon. Though it’s pretty tough to live up to that standard, the rest of my time with the Eckardt program has been amazing, as I’ve gotten the chance to meet an incredible group of students and spend time with them in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise. We always take the chance to get dinner together or play minigolf, and the program always encourages us to spend time together. Additionally, with the program I’ve felt the freedom to explore a variety of academic subjects and spend my first few undecided semesters figuring out what I want to dive into. The people who run the program have always been willing to help and discuss our ideas, and nothing feels too crazy or unrealistic.

 

Thesis Subject