CA Teacher’s Journey

Christos Galanopoulos’ Lifelong Quest for Knowledge Rooted in Self-Discovery hristos Galanopoulos’ journey to becoming the beloved teacher he is today is rooted in deeply personal and formative experiences. He joined King 25 years ago and has since been inspiring students to chart their own paths.

Powerful experiences of resilience, defiance, and heroism inspire a teaching philosophy shaped by ancient wisdom and a commitment to helping students find meaning.

Galanopoulos’ teaching philosophy took shape during his childhood through stories passed down by his grandparents — stories that ignited his passion for education.

Growing up, Galanopoulos often listened to his grandparents’ accounts of their experiences during the Nazi occupation of their small village in Greece, near the ancient site of the Olympic Games. They spoke of fear and resilience, of soldiers searching homes, spreading uncertainty and a sense of danger.

Yet, tales of defiance stood out in the darkness. A village child, despite the desperate circumstances, mocked the German occupiers with words they could not understand. This child’s boldness left a lasting impression on Galanopoulos.

“These stories became the gift of the muse that fed my imagination, the greatest gift of all,” he said. They became the vehicle that drove him to become a teacher.

His curiosity and imagination were further nurtured during adolescence when his father introduced him to ancient Greek mythology. Galanopoulos found himself drawn to the timeless themes of heroism, morality, and self-discovery. This, combined with the vivid stories of his grandparents, reinforced his desire to explore and share these profound human experiences with others.

A turning point came years later when Galanopoulos was completing his master's degree in history at Southern Connecticut State University. His thesis advisor encouraged him to write about the philosophical issue of modern nihilism: the sense of a values crisis in contemporary society. This challenge brought to the surface his deep-seated desire to teach, to combat the forces that diminish imagination and creativity, and to help others discover their own paths to meaning.

When asked, “Why do you teach?” Galanopoulos’ answer was both reflective and purposeful: “I do not teach because I want to make my students see things in a particular way or to make them believe what I believe or value what I value. As Socrates, my teaching guide, showed me, the educator should turn the students around to find the light of knowledge in themselves.”

As Galanopoulos continued to draw inspiration from the ancient philosopher Socrates, he strived to achieve self-knowledge and moral goodness and instill that in his students. “The greatest knowledge is self-knowledge,” Galanopoulos asserted. “It is more important to be good than to be smart. For one can be smart and use their intelligence for evil.”

For Galanopoulos, teaching is not about providing easy answers. Rather, it is about helping students navigate the complexities of life and encouraging them to take on difficult yet meaningful pursuits. He often reminds his students of Aristotle’s wisdom: “Educating the mind without also educating the heart is futile.”

He inspires students to persevere in the face of adversity and find reward in overcoming challenges. “Educators must teach that what is difficult is preferable to what is easy, as only what is difficult is a truly worthwhile undertaking,” he said.

Teaching, for Galanopoulos, is a lifelong mission. It is an opportunity to guide young minds toward critical thinking, self-discovery, and personal growth. “Teaching is the art of keeping the archetypal flame of the longing for selfhood and freedom alive,” he said.

His message to students is to resist the shallow values of materialism and to embrace their creativity and individuality. “I teach because, as Socrates said, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being,’” Galanopoulos concluded, reaffirming his commitment to guiding students toward lives of purpose and reflection.

Today, Galanopoulos teaches history and social sciences at King. In the classroom, however, he is more than just a teacher; he is a storyteller, a mentor, a philosopher, and a guide, helping students uncover the deeper truths within themselves.