Filipp Kvitko

  

Volume 9 | Issue III | September 2025

Windermere Preparatory School ’26

Florida, United States

  

To my mind, human history has three inexplicable phenomena that have had the greatest influence on European civilization: the rise of Athenian democracy, the emergence of Renaissance art, and the birth of modern science. In light of today’s alarming rise in authoritarianism, its growing competitiveness against democracies, and the increasing popularity of anti-democratic ideologies like the Dark Enlightenment, I seek to leverage insights from history, law, and politics to counter these trends. One of my greatest heroes has always been Pericles, who laid the foundations of democracy centuries before our era, principles that still endure today. I come from Russia, a country where democracy never took root. This makes it all the more precious to me: born into one environment and later transitioning to another, I have come to value human rights deeply, the rule of law, and the other pillars of democracy precisely because I do not take them for granted. Three fields have always captivated me: history, law, and politics. My aspiration is to master each: history to discern the patterns of human society; law to navigate the rules governing human interaction; and politics to refine the “art” of shaping the life of human society. I frequently compete in history and politics contests, eager to contribute constructively to global discourse on pivotal issues like national identity – a force that shapes societies worldwide, whether they promote multiculturalism or ethnonational supremacy. Yet, my interests extend beyond academia. I have always been passionate about tennis, and I am captivated by diverse cultures, especially music, architecture, literature, and cinematography.