The life of the young Iranian, however, until today's success, had to go through 40 waves. "The fact that I went to school in Iran helped me a lot. So I had very good contact with disciplines such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics. Where I really struggled at Panhellenic was in Greek Language Writing. I tried my best, I did my best, “the excellent student of the Model Lyceum of Mytilene, with an average score in Panhellenic 18.25 (Mathematics 20, Physics 20, Chemistry 19.5, Greek Language Writing 13.5)”, notes the young man.
Difficult living conditions in Moria
Three years ago Kouros' parents decided to leave their native country. "We left Iran for political and religious reasons. We crossed to Turkey and from there by boat we arrived in Greece" he describes this rare and difficult experience of his life.
“When we arrived here, we stayed at the Moria Reception Center. There, the living conditions were very difficult. However, since my stay in Greece I have absolutely no complaints. I am very happy with my life here. The majority of the people support and help all the people who were forced to leave their homes and homelands to live here," he underlines.
University studies most probably in the Department of Electrical Engineering in Thessaloniki
The appetite for learning, however, despite the difficulties with the language, could not put a barrier in the dreams of the young Kouros. "Within three months from the day we came to Lesbos, I enrolled in the 2nd Vocational Lyceum (EPAL) of Mytilini where I stayed for a year, until I changed school and entered the General High School. Certainly, I faced many difficulties related to the language; however, my social environment -which only spoke Greek- helped me a lot. As well as the fact that I read a lot. I wanted to learn them quickly so that I could succeed" says Kouros Durmohamadi Baghi.
As for what he had to sacrifice during these three years to reach his studies, he concludes by saying: "Many things. At first I didn't go out. I committed to it. It was my goal. I really wanted to succeed and I did. Now I am thinking about my future. I am mostly interested in the School of Electrical Engineering in Thessaloniki. They told me it's a very nice city, with a nice student life, and I hope it's like that."
On Monday 4th of July 2022 Kouros Durmohammadi Baigi, the 19-year-old Iranian refugee student, has been personally congratulated by Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for his exceptional results in Greece’s nationwide university entry exams, the Panhellenic Exams. Baigi met with the Prime Minister at Maximos Mansion in Athens.
While talking to Baigi, Mitsotakis noted that “we always want to be very open in cases like yours, so as to give all the children who came here — especially the unaccompanied refugee minors – (…) the opportunities to be able to learn the language, to study here and to live here.”
Sources:
https://www.grtimes.gr/ellada/o-mathitis-apo-to-iran-poy-eftase-sti
https://greekherald.com.au/news/iranian-refugee-who-excelled-in-panhellenic-exams-meets-with-greek-prime-minister/