Aayan Mittal

  

Volume 9 | Issue III | September 2025

Pine Crest School ’26

Florida, United States

  

I have always been drawn to the fields of Classics and Philosophy. Whether it was reading Greek and Roman myths or arguing with my siblings, ancient history and debate have always intrigued me. Furthermore, I’ve always held the belief that it is important to learn from those who have spent their lives learning, such as philosophers. So, when I read Plato’s Republic, I was instantly hooked onto the methods of debate and pursuing knowledge that Plato’s Socrates employed. As such, I decided to write my research paper, “Virtue and Rhetoric: Rethinking Justice, Persuasion, and Methodology in Plato’s Republic”. A true interest in the field of Classics began for me in ninth grade when I took my first Latin class. Learning Latin began to enhance my understanding of various other academic subjects, and after seeing its importance, I decided to pursue learning Attic Greek independently. Learning both Latin and Greek as well as reading philosophical texts has greatly transformed my perception of other academic subjects and the world around me, and I hope to continue learning about these aspects, amongst many others, in the field of Classics as I enter college. Outside of my academic interests, I play both the violin and viola, and I enjoy spending time with my family, listening to music, and watching the Knicks and Steelers.