Petrino Awards
Congratulations to Catherine Varner, one of this year’s ETC Petrino Award recipients. We asked Catherine a few questions to learn more about her and her love of the Classics.
Tell me a little about yourself. Why do you like studying Classics?
I'm a girl who has always loved to read. My friends have described me as a book fanatic. I'm a very independent person, who recently took up writing. I like studying classics because I like to hear what those before me thought about the world. Their beliefs, traditions, heroes, all become a part of me. When in a difficult situation, I will sometimes think of the Classic Myths to find an answer.
How did you hear about the Petrino award?
I first heard about it from my Social Studies teacher, Dr. J Boddington, and my school librarian, Mrs. Wolfe. They gave me an offer to join the school Mythology Club. I progressed through the club and took the state-wide Mythology Exam. I got a perfect score, and my librarian asked if she could nominate me for this award.
What's your dream job? How do you think the study of Classics will help you achieve this dream?
My dream job is currently to become an author. I think studying Classics would help me because I could take traits and qualities of those heroes and villains to help me develop my own characters. Studying Classics also helps me understand how other people see the world. I like to explore different viewpoints for my books.
Why do you like the study of Classics and mythology specifically? What is your favorite myth?
I like to study Classics and Mythologies because it broadens my view of the world. Studying Classics and Myths is helping me develop an idea of how this giant mystery of the world works.
My favorite myth would have to be the story of Atalanta. Her fierce, loner personality interests me, and her story is a great one. She is also one of the only people to supposedly have had an affair with more than one of the gods.
Any words of wisdom for other young classicists out there?
My advice would be this, "Keep chasing what you want to do. Don't let anyone get in the way of your dream. If they want to call you weird or crazy for studying classics, then let them. Other people don't get to choose what you can do with your life. That choice is yours and yours alone. No one can do it for you. If you don't understand the lesson of a myth, try applying it to an event in your life, or the life of someone you know. Don't be afraid to ask other people for help.
No one can get through their life alone. Look at the myths, all of the heroes who ended up alone also ended up dead. Let people into your life, and they can help you. Shut everyone out, and you won't accomplish anything. You could become a professor in the area of Classics and Mythology, you could become a writer who uses the mythologies in their work as I do, it doesn't matter. Just do what you want, and don't give up on your dreams."
Congratulations, Catherine!
Fall 2020 · PRIMA · PETRINO AWARDS
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Congratulations to the 2020 Petrino Award Winners Luca Stucco and Catherine Varner!.