Kiril Angelov '08, Bachelor’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations
Kiril Angelov attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations and a minor in English Language and Humanities with honors in 2008, returning to North Macedonia at the Secretariat for European Affairs, Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. Soon after, he attained his Master’s degree in European Studies and Integration from the University of Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Sociology in Skopje. While working in the Secretariat, he had the honor to work as a diplomat in the Mission of the Republic of North Macedonia in Brussels for three years. Currently, Kiril is enrolled in two universities to attain another BA and a Ph.D.: in the University of Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Sociology, to earn a Doctorate in Byzantine history and culture; and in the University of Theology, to attain a second BA. He currently holds the position of Diplomat/Adviser for science, research, education, and culture, and public administration reform, in the Secretariat for European Affairs, Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. As an aficionado of languages (having knowledge of seven languages and currently learning three more), he is finishing his first two books and also working as a freelance translator.
The best memory I have of ACT…
There are so many good memories, but just a few: when I was a student, I had the luck to live on campus; in Morley House. It was probably my most cherished time there. The campus itself is a labyrinth of hidden corners and beautiful gems of nature. And there is one moment that had been etched in my mind; every sunset on campus. An array of memories floods my senses and soul to this day. I used to sit on the ground, on benches, on the steps of the many buildings and read, study, or even watch a movie on my laptop. These memories overwhelm me and help me push forward through life. These memories will always stay with me.
Apart from these, there are fantastic memories within ACT, with the professors and the amazing people I met from all over the world. ACT allows you to meet the world on its campus, the beautiful interaction between the professors and the students, the welcoming nature of the people and Greece, and the history and culture of the country. Everything is an experience; every day at ACT is an adventure and an opportunity to learn something new. My days in Thessaloniki and Greece, were an entire lifetime spent in laughter, peace, and happiness; my own universe.
My favorite professor was…
It would be a hard question to answer. My primary passion was and still is literature and creative writing. Although I majored in Diplomacy and International Relations and minored in English Language and Humanities, my heart always will be most devout to poetry and prose. I am eternally grateful to professors David Wisner, Maria Kyriakidou, Serap A. Kayatekin, and Anna-Maria Konsta. My life was thoroughly changed under the guidance of professors Eleni Godi, Anna Challenger, Joseph Michael Gratale, and Daphne Lamprou.
My favorite spot on campus…
Because I was enrolled at ACT with a full scholarship, I had the pleasure of working in Bissell Library. The library and surrounding grounds is still my favorite spot on campus; it’s where I spent most of my time, and hold my fondest memories. Being a bibliophile and linguist, the library was indeed my safe haven. My peers and professors often joked that I had a specific booth/computer I always sat at, known as “Kiril’s spot.” So people always knew where to find me because I was there from sunrise to sundown - before, between, and after classes.
In a way, I am still there at that exact spot. Whenever I go through a particular hardship in life, I remember ACT, and like medicine to the soul, I feel inexplicably better.
There is no way to leave this answer without mentioning a specific person who was then a librarian and is now an Executive Assistant to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs: Efstratia Chatzivasileiou. Aside from ACT as a whole, my professors, and peers, Efstratia was probably among the top three people who have helped me become the person I am today. And I am forever grateful for her being an integral part of ACT. I cannot not mention the rest of the ladies in the library (Stella, Evi, Liza, Areti); amazing people from who I learned so much.
ACT helped me to…
be a better person, above everything. The multiculturalism at ACT is a beautiful thing. It has helped me deepen my understanding, appreciation, and respect for other people’s backgrounds, cultures, and lives. ACT enabled me to be a better diplomat. I worked in Brussels for three years as a diplomat, and everything I practiced there was taught to me at ACT. The same thing goes for my writing; I still go back to all the lessons and classes and things I have learned. And, I implement every single one of them in my daily life, whatever I do.
ACT helped me to smile through my most challenging times. In 2019 I was diagnosed with cancer. During the surgery and chemotherapy, I used to scroll through all my photos from ACT, and I held on so tight to those memories. I strongly believe that the positive energy and warm memories saved me in a way.
The elements that characterize the identity of ACT graduates are…
perseverance, hard work, understanding, friendship, the sense of belonging. And of course, there are certain values that are shared among the graduates that cannot be expressed in words; they have to be felt. ACT should be the ultimate choice for everyone who wishes to pursue their academic future.
For me, ACT is…
everything. When I say this, I genuinely mean it. I came from a very financially unstable background. I was a hardworking teenager with the affinity to explore and learn languages, get lost in books, and detach from the real world. ACT has taught me how to be a part of the world, with all of my differences. ACT gave me the best four years of my life, and to this moment, there is not a single day that passes by that I do not think about my life in Greece. It is my treasure, my everything.
