Nicholas Wilk What Is It Like To Be You?

Essay English 1102 I Live A Gift And Test This life has been a journey and it still proceeds. It has been a test with awards; it comes with memories like pictures. I am very thankful to be who I am and where I stand at this moment in life. It is a pleasure to be me, without sounding conceded. My name is Nicholas Wilk but I commonly go by Niko. This is how I depict myself, mainly because it gives a better description of where I came from and how I live. I am a descendant of Greek ancestry. Even living in America, I celebrate and follow the traditions of Greek culture with my family. During feast days in the Orthodox Church, we bake Greek desserts (such as kourambiedes yum!) and cook my favorite meat, lamb; seasoning it via rotisserie. I cannot forget to mention the fact that I embrace the music! By constantly listening to the songs, I am gradually learning how to speak Greek. Its satisfying to know that I can have a phone call with my yiayia [grandmother]. Me: ! ;
Hello my beautiful grandmother! How are you doing?

Yiayia: ! . ;
Hello handsome! I am good. And you?

Me: , ! . Lovely, thank you! I went to church today. Yiayia: ! xomework;

Bravo my boy! Do you have homework? (Greek accent)

Me: . Architecture you know? E . ,

Always. Architecture you know? I have responsibilities. Anyway

Yiayia: Well! Get your work done tzenius! Love you!

Well! Get your work done genius! Love you!

Me: haha . '! ! Haha alright, Yiayia. I love you! Bye! As you can tell her and I speak Greeklish together! It has been a good way for me to learn my favorite language. Aside from my familys traditions, I have been a member of a Hellenic dance troupe where I performed in many competitions and festivals within my home state of New Jersey. It is clearly evident that my heritage is part of my life and has brought me towards people of the same culture. I have been involved with a large portion of the Greek community within the state as well. This was possible through an organization that I was blessed to be a part of, G.O.Y.A. (Greek Orthodox Youth of America). It is a group that binds Hellenic culture and the Orthodox faith for the youth within the church; I cannot be more thankful to grow during that time. We would meet at dances athletic events and art competitions. Simply going up to someone random in the Greek dance line, congratulating someone for their success or even meeting in the altar on feast days; it was very easy to meet people. In the cultural aspect, I feel as though the Greeks have this instant bond, as the common kiss between each other on the cheeks define regular friendship. It may be because each of us are prideful of our culture and are linked by our family origins. My involvement within this organization during those short six years did not only hold memories from the amazing friends Ive made, but became an impact on my life. Our bond of our Orthodox Christian faith brought my friends and I together through the Holy services and began to form a faithful bond

within our friendships. One of my fondest memories was receiving a chant about me from my friends. Every event where I succeeded in an athletic or performing arts competition, my name was shouted across the crowd as Nik Nik Niko Wilk!!. This truly was a blessing to have love from so many people. I realize that this was the way that God was helping me to receive confidence during my teenage years. I thank Him each and everyday for those moments. It truly shows that gifts are given to the faithful. This is one of the reasons Ive become so close to the Orthodox church. I feel Christ through the church and receiving the Eucharist (Holy Communion). Since I know that He has given me so much, I am responsive by living under His truth. The church is my escape and recharge from the world filled with sin. After I graduated high school, I recently embarked on this experience that shaped my life ever since. The camp that hold sacred to my heart is Ionian Village. Its slogan, The best summer of your life is absolutely true. It took a G.O.Y.A. a step further, to a more divine status. It is a threeweek camp that brings Greek Orthodox (or Greek) American youth to Greece for a cultural and spiritual journey. There is something special about this experience. All I can truly say is that I went as a shy boy and left a strong and mature man. We meet from all over the United States, with different backgrounds, issues, and situations.

The people that I judged at the beginning ended up becoming my closest friends at the end. Any ordinary camp could not do this. What Ive seen, what Ive done, and what Ive learned have made me a strong Christian. We, as campers, went to monasteries in the mountainous villages of Greece to witness the relics of the Saints. We visited an extremely old church that experienced a divine miracle during a tragedy. We had discussions with priests about the daily struggles with faith in America and had self-realizations. I also left all of my fears behind and show my true colors as the outgoing, dancing, and faithful soul I am. It became a self-realization that I have this character for a reason. I am a child of God that proclaims His love in this broken world. As a songwriter, I wrote a song about the experience called Mystical, which deeply expresses the faithful love that was made in Greece and how it continues as an imprint in my life. Im recalling a time of collision Looking up to the sky I envisioned A life fully lived in Glyfa Theres sparks there Ive never known Isolated from pasts history Shunning out shadows for divinity Someone Ive always been blessed to have Has given worth in me

This first verse examines my life now and how I still reminisce on the memories. The sparks line represents how Christ and the patron saint of the camp, Saint Dionysios, have blessed the camp by forming friendships and bringing each of the campers close to the most traditional of the Christian faiths. All of the campers and I were taken away from our pasts in America for a fresh beginning. Shunning out shadows means we are leaving our ways of sin to become closer to God. It also examines how Ive always had my faith since the sacrament of Baptism but the camp became a point of realization of how much God loves each of his children. The chorus is the overall proclamation of my gratitude for Ionian Village and how it will remain as a large impact on my life. It states, This love is mystical The bond has brought me to my knees Have never felt this special Chosen for the eternal blink of an eye As I look above, I see the sun always has its light Im seeing in vivid color; stronger Ready for the broken world Writing lyrics are one of my main forms of expressions. My songs have become reflections of events in my life and or familys lives. Some songs mention how people must overcome in our darkest times, rejoicing life, being true to yourself, and or other topics that reflect my views. Its funny that almost all of my lyrics reflect back to my faith. It is as if Christ is writing through me as a message to myself and to others. A recent incident in my life was breaking up with my girlfriend of a long distance relationship. After the fact, I wrote a song called Pray To Revive.

Life doesnt always seem right And these points make you want to break But this is a test To determine your strengths And pray to revive These lyrics translate literally for its meaning. Unfortunately, the only instrument that I have to produce the song is my own voice. I rely on friends that play instruments to help produce the sound Im looking for. It comes as a struggle but it ends up being an opportunity of collaboration. I see how my friends perceive the melody to be. My other great form of creation is what has brought to this great university. Architecture has been a major part of my life since I was 5 years old. This sparked from all of the traveling my family did throughout my life, which I am very grateful for. Since my mother is from California, I am used to being on the airplane and I love it! But anyway, the city that captured my attention for architecture was Sacramento, my roots in that captivating state. I remember that when I was five and my parents were driving to Yiayias house from the airport, we passed downtown Sacramento on the highway. I never recalled seeing such striking high-rises each with different textures and structures. I recall asking my mom with awe, What is that place, mommy?. She thinks Im referring to the historical district of the city. She smiles and replies, Thats Old Sacramento, honey. I made sure that we were going there for the day. By the

time I realized that we were walking on dirt roads with saloons and no skyscrapers, I was just befuddled and annoyed, in a cute way of course. This is when I discovered the term, downtown, for many cities having towers. Another city that made me happy to be in was Las Vegas. My eyes were awestruck by the lights, the themes, and the creativity it took to design beautiful pieces of architecture. Before any trip to Vegas, I studied the Strip as a tour guide would (which I felt like every time I was in that city; not to mention at 10 years old!). After these visits, I began to draw my own cities and casinos! The amount of paper Ive used throughout my childhood to draw would probably get me in trouble with the Environmental Protection Agency. However, it is worth it to draw the visions or ideas Ive seen.

I began to get ideas for drawing by observing landscapes on the ground that can be brought to life-size. It sounds interesting, but I love being in the birds eye view. A large lake probably came from a pond or pool in the backyard, for example. Its beyond me why I do it but I am very blessed to be able to express my interest through my hand. I believe that the hand is useful for capturing creativity of the moment. This track has led me to study

architecture in high school, where I learned the basics of design. I loved creating my own house using CAD tools. It was the icing on the cake to make sure that this is what I want to do with my life.

After receiving acceptance into the School of Architecture, I knew that this was the place for me. I am uncertain of how I arrived here at times of deep thought but I know everything happens for a reason. I thank God for letting me follow my dream, even through all of the struggles and late nights along the way. Now, I am confident that this is where I can learn and create my visions into reality. However, I continue to write and express my other forms of art. In this field, everything can intertwine. Since college is the time to establish ones individuality, I realize that my faith is being tested the most now because I am becoming independent. All of the lessons that Ive learned throughout life have made me strong and faithful. I notice how things in life connect and happen spontaneously as response to my prayers. I continually go to church and I realized how blessed I am. I am meeting people that help me within my own schedule, and I am connecting to the people down here instantly, and I have been welcomed as if I never left. I am

constantly amazed by these miracles. My parents have been shocked by all of these new stories during our phone calls, too! These points in my life have been tests and gifts that make me realize how much I am loved. I am blessed to have the experiences that give me light upon my days. It is my responsibility to use this love towards others, as I try my best to do. I have learned that forgiveness is the hardest act to commit. But it is said that Saint Dionysios forgave the murderer of his own brother and changed the man to become a monk of the church. How can I, or we, be more like Saint Dionysios or Christ? As life continues, I experience and stay true to my morals through the process. It is a pleasure to be me.