May 9 is celebrated across the continent as Europe Day: a day dedicated to peace, unity, and cooperation in Europe. Eighty years ago, on the evening of May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Yet, despite the return of peace, the scars of war remained: millions of lives were lost, cities destroyed, economies shattered, and the geopolitical landscape was uncertain. Out of the ashes, however, a powerful vision emerged: a vision of a reborn, strong Europe, in which war would become unthinkable. Five years later, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman called for the creation of a European Community for trade of coal and steel—a historic initiative that laid the groundwork for today's European Union (EU).

In this spirit of international cooperation and cultural exchange, our school has developed a partnership with École Internationale Gaston Thorn in Luxembourg. Last year, we had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from the school on our Psychico campus. This autumn, students from Athens College High School 1 reciprocated the visit to Luxembourg. Building on this collaboration, students from both schools came together once again to jointly celebrate Europe Day 2025.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the eve of Europe Day, a group of five students from Athens College High School 3 collaborated with their peers from Gaston Thorn. Our students prepared a presentation on the history of Europe and participated in two online seminars. They listened to the views of their peers from Luxembourg, exchanged perspectives, and deepened their understanding of their European identity. Later, members of the Athens College High School MUN club joined the dialogue, enriching the discussion with their insights and experiences.

Finally, the celebration of Europe Day at Athens College concluded with thoughtful reflection. With their student and European identities as common ground, this occasion marked the beginning of a fruitful dialogue, one that fosters the growth of responsible, engaged European citizens.