His journey with computers began when he was 4 years old. Opening a closet at random, he found a laptop that his parents didn’t use
An old laptop belonging to his parents was the trigger for his involvement with computers from the age of four and today, a student of the 1st high school, he excels in international IT competitions, winning 2nd place in Europe, Middle East and Africa and 9th place worldwide, putting Greece in the global ranking, in the Microsoft Office Specialist championship. THE Christos Vekiosdescribed to the Athenian and Macedonian News Agency how he managed to bring out his passion and talent in IT, developing skills that have taken him to the top.
“In the summer I had the honor to represent my country in the world championship Microsoft Office Specialist (MOSWC) 2024, taking 9th place”, proudly points out Christos Vekios and explains that, “this competition aims to teach young people aged 13-22 to use basic office applications, such as Word, which specializes in word processing, PowerPoint, which specializes in presentations, and Excel, which specializes in spreadsheets. This knowledge is necessary in a society where computers are increasingly integrated into our lives and have now become an integral part of the work environment. Thus, the competition combines the assimilation of these important knowledge, with a championship that can arouse the interest of even more, because of the tempting gifts, but also the whole atmosphere of a competition”.
His path, as he says, with computers began at the age of four. Accidentally opening a closet at home, he found a laptop that his parents didn’t use. At first he used it to listen to music and watch movies, but at the age of 10, he started to realize that computers were something he was really interested in. He watched video guides for anything that interested him, so he started making websites for acquaintances and friends. Gradually, he started to evolve and was the go-to person for all electronic matters around him. Looking for ways to develop this passion, he participated in robotics competitions, winning a gold medal with his team and achieving national and world-level honors.
“I learned about this competition by chance, when my grandfather was watching the news and I saw a report about the silver champion at the time,” notes Christos and adds: “I took lessons at a training center that specializes in this championship. In the first year I came fifth in the pan-Hellenic competition and in the second year I managed to win first place in the Microsoft Word category. With this win, I traveled to California to compete with students from around the world, realizing the range of skills the competition requires. There, I managed to take 2nd place in Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as 9th place worldwide, thus putting Greece back in the World Ranking. But apart from the competition part, I managed to get to know different cultures and cultures, and to see places up close, such as Hollywoodthe Disneyland and its beach Santa Monica».
His MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) distinction, he emphasizes, was the most important. “In Greece, the competition has been held for 22 years and as far as the Greek procedures are concerned, there are three phases of the competition. In the first phase, thousands of students take part in the championship, in one of the three sections, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Of these, the 100 best are invited to the grand pan-Hellenic final, and the first from each category, i.e. the first three in total, go to the third phase, where they are given the opportunity to travel for a week to America in order to compete with all the other participating countries, which amount to 85, and then to highlight the big winners who claim financial scholarships or other gifts, such as computers, gaming machines”, explains the 15-year-old.
Christos Vekios states that he is particularly troubled by the violence and delinquency of minors, as he says, “I am concerned by the fact that many children are marginalized and the most unpleasant thing is that most of us are just spectators, while we should be preventing these events. Especially at a time when teenage delinquency is on the rise, it is critical to give young people creative outlets. The MOS competition, and all related competitions, are excellent examples as they offer students opportunities to develop their skills and gain valuable experiences. Through such activities, young people can avoid negative cycles and channel their energy in productive directions.”
Referring to the preparation needed to achieve distinction in this particular field, he said that it is intensive and demanding. “I focused on improving my knowledge, but also on time and pressure management, which proved to be crucial during the competition. Although the conditions were difficult, the sense of challenge kept me determined to give my best” and he emphasized that those young people who are interested in participating in such competitions, “I would advise them that the most important thing is patience and perseverance. Continuous improvement and discipline are the keys to reaching world class. Despite the challenges, with the right approach, everything is possible.”
Source :Skai
I am Terrance Carlson, author at News Bulletin 247. I mostly cover technology news and I have been working in this field for a long time. I have a lot of experience and I am highly knowledgeable in this area. I am a very reliable source of information and I always make sure to provide accurate news to my readers.
