My Dream Day By Yianni Xerakias

Hello! My name is Yianni Xerakias! I was the 2022 Loukoumi Dream Day Winner, and I was able to visit the Regeneron Headquarters in Westchester, NY.  Let me tell you, it was an experience to remember. Regeneron is an amazing place filled with technology, where miraculous medicines are being made all around.  I met many important people at Regeneron during my dream day.  I met two employees who gave me a history of Regeneron and a tour of the many buildings at the Regeneron headquarters.   Regeneron is an extraordinary place that all started as a dream of a man who wanted to help others. This man is Doctor George Yancopoulos. 

I had the honor to interview Doctor Yancopoulos over lunch.  I discussed many things with Dr. Yancopoulos, like how Regeneron started and what his favorite and least favorite things about his job are.   He shared stories about his Yiayia (“grandmother”) and his own children.  The most powerful thing I learned from the doctor is to follow your dreams and believe in yourself.  At lunch, there were also post-docs who have come to Regeneron from all over the world. After lunch, they did science experiments with me.  I extracted a strawberry’s DNA, found out the buoyancy of a grape, and made a homemade lava lamp. Honestly, all the experiments were magnificent and so much fun.  In conclusion, the day was everything I could think of and more.  Thank you to Nick Katsoris and everyone else who made my dream day possible, and always remember, as Loukoumi says, “Believe in yourself and dreams come true.”