My first Publication 1926874721_Alumni_Magazine_June_2010 | Página 14

Issue 3, June 2010
and principles of the Natural Law
and to use this knowledge in order to
improve themselves as individuals and
as societies. This knowledge could be
acquired mostly through education and
that is why all the thinkers of the time
emphasized so much on it. Following
this logic, Deists were the first to develop
the idea of Progress. In my opinion,
these beliefs remain the best answer to
the fundamental questions: “Why do
we exist?”, “Why are we?”; “What is
our mission on Earth?” I am not going
to discuss what contemporary average
Bulgarians are filling their tabula with
because the result would be quite sad:
Eurofootball, shopping, fashion, chalga,
cars, sexual affairs and reality shows
which combine all of the previous
elements. Please, do not become average
Bulgarians in that particular sense!
High school education, particularly at
the ACS, is the next topic in my speech.
In general, the concept is to give you
basic knowledge in the field of different
subjects (the basics of the Natural
Law), to create academic skills that will
be useful in your university education,
and to prepare you for the real life by
helping you to become decent, honest
and responsible citizens (the idea of
Progress). The Bulgarian educational
system requires great efforts and hard
working with curricula based on almost
university academic level and a multitude
of subjects. The situation in our school
becomes even more complex because of
the fact that we use the American grading
policy that requires very high academic
achievements in order to get an A. This
is why, however, our school is so great
and is considered the best educational
high school institution in Bulgaria. …
…The purpose of high school education
is to teach you how to study. Our goal
as teachers is much more complicated,
however. We are trying to teach you
to systemize and summarize the
information; to synthesize and analyze
it. We are trying to develop both your
communicative and written skills in
English, Bulgarian as well as in German,
Spanish or French. We are trying to
develop your logical and critical thinking;
to let you think independently, to help
you to express freely your personal
opinion and at the same time to teach
you to follow the universal moral values.
Have we succeeded? May be the best
answer could be given by you in a few or
Congratulations, Class of 2010!
12
even more than a few years. What I can
say is: “At least we did try.”
How about your education in the
University? The purpose of this
education is to make you competent
experts and professionals in a certain
area. The process of achieving that is
actually quite longer and may take all
the rest of your lives but your University
studies are a major step in this direction.
Advantages are many: first of all, you are
going, hopefully, to study what you are
really interested in. …At the University
I studied what I really wanted and I
wholeheartedly wish you all the same
stroke of luck. This is one of the main
preconditions for your future success.
…Last but not least. Have a great social
life! My years in the University were and
will remain the greatest days of my life. I
wish you to have many new friends and
not to forget the old ones either. …Be
moderate (when possible) and try to find
the best balance between studies and
entertainment. In other words: try to
find the pleasure in studying and to learn
the lessons of life while entertaining.
In conclusion, I would like to wish you
all the best of luck in everything!