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"COMMENTS ABOUT NICHOLAS D. KOKONIS' ARCADIA, MY ARCADIA"
By Dario Ramirez, Triton College, Illinois
Angelos Vlahos is the main character in "Arcadia, My Arcadia" and before page ten, a connection is formed between the reader the character. The boy is young, smart and full of hope and wonder. I believe everyone at some point in their lives held this combination of characteristics and values. The book shows an example of someone who kept those characteristics longer than a moment in time and transformed them into a way of life.
The book was captivating and the transitions from one point in his life to another were smooth and easy to follow. It connected well with me and my life and the life of my family. I, like Angelo, was intelligent as a child and worked hard on my schooling. Through kindergarten to sixth grade I had straight A's with an occasional B every other quarter. My intelligence was recognized and I was invited to attend a program called "High Jump." The program gave minorities in Chicago who excelled in school and had vast potential but lack the resources to achieve a better education. I applied and out of a few thousand I and thirty nine others were chosen.
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I completed "High Jump" and was accepted to The Latin School of Chicago. I graduated and attended the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign for architecture until this semester due to outside circumstances affecting my work ethic and over mood. I lost focus and had too much to work with; I could not push myself anymore. I was burnt out and depressed because of my parents' marriage of thirty years was coming to an end. My family was falling apart and they turned to me to help them out. I tried to juggle it all but fell short.
Now I have reasserted myself and managed to straighten things out in every aspect of my life. Arcadia My Arcadia really contributed heavily to my rebuilding stage. Angelo's story opened my eyes to my own potential…I can strive to be the best. Even the impossible is possible.
Dario Ramirez
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