As part of our “Young Journalists” workshop, we had the opportunity to speak with Stefanos Alexiadis, a philologist, author, and TEDx speaker who stands out for his love of language, literature, and people. Through our conversation, both his personal journey and his thoughts on education, children, and modern society came to light.
He describes himself through three defining elements: his love for the Greek language, his deep connection with books, and his “thirst for life.” Although his family environment did not have a particularly close relationship with literature, he developed a strong interest in reading from an early age, borrowing books from libraries and gradually nurturing his bond with books.
Writing, however, was not originally a life goal. As he explains, it began unexpectedly during the pandemic, when he wrote his first book in order to encourage one of his students to read. That book, The Winged Sandals, was not only published, but also achieved great success, even winning a readers’ choice award. This journey proves, as he himself emphasizes, that difficulties or failures can often lead to new creative opportunities.
An especially important moment in his career was his participation as a TEDx speaker. Although the experience was stressful, it was also transformative. His talk focused on the acceptance of diversity, highlighting the need for a society that makes room for all people, regardless of their differences. As he notes, his aim was to “open” the audience’s minds and encourage them to see things from a new perspective.
Through his dual role as both educator and author, Stefanos Alexiadis expresses deep concern about children’s relationship with reading today. He does not place the blame on children, but mainly on adults, pointing out that children imitate what they see. If there is no connection with books in the family environment, it becomes difficult for children to develop a love of reading on their own.
At the same time, he highlights important issues concerning both school and society. For him, the most essential lesson that should be taught is not knowledge, but respect. He stresses the need for boundaries as well as meaningful dialogue in the classroom, while underlining that a teacher should act as a child’s ally rather than as a judge.
One of the greatest problems he identifies is the loss of childhood. As he explains, many children today are forced to take on responsibilities or experience situations that do not correspond to their age, and as a result, they lose the right to truly live their childhood.
Finally, he also refers to the difficulties faced by authors in Greece, emphasizing that writing is not an easy profession from a financial point of view. Nevertheless, those who devote themselves to books do so mainly out of love and a need for self-expression.
Our conversation with Stefanos Alexiadis highlighted the importance of understanding, empathy, and education as essential foundations for a better society. Through his words, it becomes clear that education is not limited to the transmission of knowledge, but is above all a process of shaping human beings.
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