A high school student from Thessaloniki expressed unreserved joy after completing today’s (May 29, 2026) first exam of the Pan-Hellenic Examinations — Modern Greek Language and Literature. Speaking to ERT, Giannis, a student at a General Lyceum (GEL) in Thessaloniki, appeared wearing a shirt of his favorite football club, PAOK, and said he felt completely satisfied with his performance — one shared by thousands of other candidates across Greece.
“I Wanted to Scream with Joy”
“I did really well — better than I expected,” he said. “I thought if something unusual came up, I’d barely scrape a 10 or 11. But now I believe I’ve hit solid scores — higher than any I’ve achieved before. Since this was the last time I’ll ever write an essay for exams, the moment I realized it was over, I had this huge, ear-to-ear grin. I wanted to scream — just let it all out.”
Confidence Ahead of Next Exams
Looking ahead to the next subject — Mathematics — he confidently declared: “I’ll score 20. It’s my subject. I’ve loved math since I was little — I’m a math person.” When asked about his preferred university program, he replied with disarmingly candid honesty: “Maritime Studies in Piraeus — unfortunately.”
Preparation? Mostly Social Media
When questioned about how he prepared for the Pan-Hellenics, he admitted, “I didn’t study that much. TikTok, Instagram, reels — that’s where I spent my time. I was just chilling.” Still, his upbeat attitude reflects broader optimism among GEL candidates as they move into the next phase of the national exams.