I owe my challenging last name, Matwijec, to my Ukrainian grandfather. My first name is George. In 1914, my grandfather left Galicia, a Ukrainian stronghold, possibly foreseeing the looming war. It was a wise decision, as his father, Theodore, was tragically killed by Russian forces during the conflict, as was the father of my grandfather’s wife, Anna.
I’m grateful for his choice to emigrate, as it led to a family of seven children, one of whom was my father,Walter, born in Rome, New York. Growing up in upstate New York was a wonderful experience. While I won’t dive into my whole life story, it has certainly been an interesting journey. I had the chance to study in Europe for five years, earning a Licentiate degree in philosophy and becoming fluent in Spanish and Italian. These skills have stayed with me throughout my life.
Currently, I teach both Spanish and Italian at a public high school in Bucks County, PA, and in the evenings, I teach philosophy at Immaculata University. I strongly believe that learning a foreign language not only sharpens the mind but also opens doors to understanding cultures different from our own. In philosophy, my focus is on knowledge and logic. While my students often find the subject challenging, they usually express gratitude by the end, having developed new logical thinking skills. In a world full of complexities, I believe that thinking clearly and logically helps us navigate obstacles, make sound decisions, and solve problems in both personal and public life.
The emergence of AI has significantly transformed the academic landscape. What once took countless hours of research can now be accomplished almost instantly with the help of AI, freeing up time for educators to focus more on interpretation and analysis rather than fact-finding. My book, My Interview with AI, aims to harness the positive potential of AI in advancing ideas and contributing meaningfully to intellectual discourse.