Chapter 9: (v.2) A meeting with a university professor can NEVER go wrong!

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The next morning, Christos woke up at 9:30 a.m. and feeling refreshed, he ate his breakfast hastily. A smile formed on his lips because he planned to surprise his mother with his visit.

However, an unexpected surprise waited him. Moments before leaving the house, his phone rang. “My father?!?” he exclaimed and answered the call.

“Hey!” said Petros.

“Hey!” he replied.

“We can go and see Dr. Jurakis today!” Petros said.

“Doctor who?” asked Christos, perplexed, but then he understood who his father meant.

During spring, when they used to talk in the phone, Christos kept telling his father about his confusion with his course of study and that he didn’t know what to do in the future. His father suggested that they should meet a friend of his, a Dr. Jurakis, a university professor who could help him in his endeavor.

“Yes!” his father continued. “I met him and we talked yesterday! He said that he could see you this morning!”

“Oh, is it so?” Christos said who started to feel uncomfortable.

“So, are you available to go?”

Christos thought that he could postpone going to Iulias’ office for a few hours later, since this meeting seemed quite important.

“But, on the other hand,” he thought “is this really a good idea? There is a huge problem between me and my father!”

“Okay, let’s go!” he said and then thought, “maybe I will be able to communicate with him after all!”

***

They arrived at Lutra, where Dr. Jurakis’ villa was located. His father knocked the door and a man opened. Aged, tall, bald and broad shoulders.

“Good morning!” he said with an American accent. “Come on in!”

Petros had informed Christos that Dr. Jurakis was teaching at an American university, but Christos couldn’t recall the name of the institution.

Upon entering the house, Petros started the conversation with a merry tone in his voice, “We have come here dear Mr. Stelios, so you can enlighten us!”

“Ahh, of course!” he replied. “Please, have a sit!”

They sat on a table.

“Good,” said Dr. Jurakis. ”So, what have you studied in your major, Christos?”

“I have studied physics at the university of Thessaloniki,” Christos replied. “I have majored in astrophysics.”

“And now you are on a masters course, right?”

“Right.”

“On what subject?”

“Quantum theory.”

Dr. Jurakis eyes opened up wide:

“You first major in astrophysics and then take a turn towards something as different as quantum theory??” he said and then added with a raised voice, “Have you realized what you are doing?”

Christos initially became bewildered. Did he go there to be counseled or to be criticized? Then he decided that maybe the man worried about him. As he himself was worried. Did he make a mistake in doing what he really wanted? If he did, that would make him feel guilty! Perhaps it was time to shed some light into the case!”

“I decided that I prefer quantum theory over astrophysics,” he finally managed to say.

“How did you do in your exams?” the professor asked him. “Did you pass?”

Interrupting, Petros said, “He passes the exams Stelios! And with good grades!”

“Apart from two which I did not pass. . .” added Christos. “I will retake the exams for those two in September!”

“It is okay,” said Dr. Jurakis. “I am sure you will pass them as well!”

Christos, however, wasn’t certain at all as he didn’t know if he could manage to finish the masters course. His fear and insecurity started to grow.

“The academic path is a difficult one,” said Dr. Jurakis. “Especially when we are talking about quantum physics!”

“I think I understand. . . “ Christos said.

“I am not so sure about that,” Dr. Jurakis replied, “you see, since I am an academic, I can tell you about these things first hand!”

Dr. Jurakis continued:

“In order to be an academic, you must really like what you are doing and you mustn’t do it for the money, because you will likely not become richer in this line of work!”

“I know that!”

“Your father's field, for example, has a lot more cash!”

Christos’ worrying increased. There always seemed to be obstacles to what he wanted to achieve. Am I going to succeed eventually?” he wondered and then stubbornly stated, “I have taken my decision to move forward!”

“Good,” replied Dr. Jurakis, “In such a case, I could give you directions!”

“Thank you Dr. Jurakis for this,” Christos said.

“But that would be better to happen next year, when you will have completely covered the gaps in your knowledge and know your field of expertise well!”

“I have no objection to that,” Christos agreed.

“Good then! I wish to you a good summer!” Dr. Jurakis said.

Christos wondered again if his effort would bear fruits. He felt confused and said nothing.

“You will make it!” said the professor, reading Christos’ insecurity.

Almost compulsively, Christos thought that the professor didn’t really mean what he said; rather, he meant, “Ha! You will never make it!”

It felt as if it wasn’t the professor who said these words but someone else. But Christos couldn’t find out who.

Saying farewell to Dr. Jurakis, Christos and Petros drove towards the city center of Aleksandroupoli.

“So,” asked Petros. “What do you think of Dr. Jurakis? He is good isn’t he?”

“He is okay,” Christos replied. He still feared if he would succeed in his masters degree. “Will you leave me on mom's office?”

“Okay,” his father replied having a perplexed expression on his face.

Interpreting his father's expression as a kind of disapproval, Christos became convinced oncd again of his worthlessness.

Submitted: February 27, 2024