Angelo Koskinas
Class of 2000
Written by Jennifer Ruocoo

   Global teacher Angelo Koskinas brings truth to the saying “You only know someone if you walk in their shoes.” Being a former student at Cardozo and having navigated the halls through the eyes of both a student and teacher, Koskinas speaks from experience. Koskinas first came into Cardozo his sophomore year from MS-158 and was in the graduating class of 2000. “My high school experience was very good but very serious. You have to know when to be serious,” Koskinas states.
   “Not knowing what to expect when you wake up in the morning and the excitement of attending is the best part of being a student in Cardozo,” Koskinas admits. “The worst part is not having enough time to soak everything in. Time flies when you’re having fun.” Koskinas was very active during his high school years, both with his academics and extracurricular activities; being involved in the soccer team in school, working outside of school with two jobs, and being on St. Nicholas’ basketball team. Ms. Georgia Papadopoulos and Mr. Richard Parascos were two teachers that Koskinas reports holding in high esteem; Ms. Papadopoulos being his English and Greek teacher and Mr. Parascos being his law teacher and soccer coach. A major event in history that affected Koskinas was the Bosnian War during his years in Cardozo. “People who were once friends were now enemies,” Koskinas candidly states.
   He started his teaching position in Cardozo in September of 2004. “Mr. Goodman, the head of the language department, submitted my application and I aced the interview,” Koskinas states, adding, “I signed the papers that same day. It was different, very fun. The first year (working here) was surreal,” Koskinas recalls. “I remember there was this one kid that was my student who was nineteen years old and I was about twenty at the time, not even drinking age,” Koskinas recalls with a smile. Currently, Koskinas is still content and satisfied with his teaching position. Former student and current service monitor Anjali Bhaisin says, “He has always reminded his students to take high school seriously and exceed in everything we do, may it be a project, test, or beating guitar hero in expert, he has always encouraged us.”
   In the past eight years since Koskinas graduated, Cardozo has changed. “Academically Cardozo is still at the top. Socially very different. The culture of students has changed; students are not as respectful and not as friendly. Technology is now a new problem in school that wasn’t there when I went,” Koskinas states. “Back when I went here students were a lot more diverse. We were more independent and culturally aware. There were more culture clubs. Now you have to fall into the norm…there is not enough individuality,” Koskinas adds.
   Currently Koskinas has a very active lifestyle. “It is very difficult; going for a Masters, having a side job and my own career,” Koskinas states. With a shrug he continues, “The trials and tribulations of adulthood,” as he shoots a miniature paper ball in the garbage can. Summing up his high school experience, Koskinas concludes, “Something I obtained were definitely the influences of all the students; the different cultures, diversity, philosophies. It is different to be young. Being a student and being a teacher is like night and day.”