Martha’s personality and stellar VCE results that she hopes will see her study design and architecture at Melbourne University, embodies French philosopher Pierre Bourdieu’s “cultural capital” theory that a child’s language skills, cultural knowledge and behaviour, originate from the family and determine a child’s success.
“The greatest gift my parents gave me is that they helped me learn Greek,” Martha said speaking to Neos Kosmos.
“They spoke Greek to me every day and sent me to Protypo Greek Centre, in Oakleigh, where I graduated with a 37 raw and 40.76 scaled in New Greek.”
Martha said because her parents encouraged her to do different things her “cultural suitcase” was brimming as she played trumpet and piano, performed in school theatre and played soccer.
“I like dance and tradition and that’s why I’ve been dancing with the band of Pontiaki Estia since I was very young,” she said.
But Martha said learning to speak Greek opened her horizons.
“When I was learning Greek as a second language, I felt like I became part of another world that connects me to my roots,” she said.
“Especially in my last years in high school, not only did my understanding of the language improve dramatically, but I also learned about Greek history, geography and stories related to Greek culture.”
Martha said she “made lifelong friends” at Greek school and strengthened her cultural ties.
“But more importantly, by being able to speak, read and write the language, I have maintained a connection to a part of myself that opens up opportunities and builds bridges with people around the world as I gain a deeper understanding of my identity that makes me a Greek-Australian,” she said
“Also, learning a language trains a part of the brain that no other subject exercises.
“I can communicate better with people in Greece and with my grandparents. It makes me a more worldly and cultured person, that I have developed a relationship with the European way of life and culture.”
Martha said she now passed on to the next generation the value of learning Greek.
“Now, I love Greek so much that I want to give back something of what they gave me, so I, in turn, work as a classroom assistant at my Greek school.”
She emphasised wanting to study architecture for its creativity and Greek cultural connections.
“Since ancient times, an important part of the culture and history of Greece has been about creating spaces where people interacted publicly,” she said.
“I think there was an intention behind the planning of the cities to create spaces that enable things that are still important even today in Greek society, such as social contact, people’s political engagement and spaces for play and entertainment.”
While Martha and her parents were born in Melbourne, her ancestral lineage reflects Greece’s rich history.
Her maternal grandparents are from the village Apsalos, near Edessa, in Macedonia in northern Greece, while their parents were from Pontus, in the former Asia Minor. Her paternal grandparents are from two villages, near Sparta, in the Peloponnese, in southern Greece.
Martha’s advice to her generation wanting to succeed was the same advice her parents gave her about investing in “cultural capital” and having a “cultural suitcase” of your own.
“At school, join bands, take part in sports, plays and all kinds of extracurriculars,” she said.
“Go to Greek schools because it will help you in your contact with relatives as well as improving your Greek vocabulary.
“It gives you the opportunity to meet new friends and take part in Greek events. You will be able to communicate when you go to Greece. It gives you the opportunity to take part and keep in touch with a very ancient history and a rich culture,” she stressed adding that she has high hopes for the future.
“… I hope to be able to create new worlds with architecture and help the environment with my work,” she said.
“I want to help society and the world and leave it a little better than I found it.”
