To which classical figure do you most relate and why? Well, many come to mind. I guess Minerva for her intelligence, but also Circe for her wiles, the Sibyl for her prophetic abilities and Scylla, believe it or not, because I often find myself in seemingly impossible situations. When did you know you wanted to be a classicist? I was a junior at Girls' Latin School. Most of our teachers were elderly women. Frequently during the winter, one would inevitably fall on the ice and break her hip. Then we would have a substitute teacher. That year, we had a young woman with a BA from Harvard who was studying drama at BU. As soon as she put Horace's odes on the board, I was hooked. Who has been the most important mentor in your career? There are two. One who has helped me weather many professional difficulties and Pat Johnston at Brandeis, who has given of her time and expertise to encourage the study of Latin in Acton. What book has been most influential to your career? I guess I would have to say Pat's Traditio because it sparked a lot of interest for the study of Latin. My own doctoral dissertation, when completed, will capture the essence of what I am all about however. What trend in Classical Studies do you see as positive? I like the fact that we are embracing not only the language but also Classical Humanities in teaching because it adds another dimension to what we can accomplish. The more we bring to teaching, the better we are able to provide our students with learning about not just the Latin language but also much more about the people who used it in their daily lives. That, and bringing it to the elementary levels. What trend in Classical Studies do you see as negative? I am always disheartened if I hear of programs declining because of budget constraints. I think that the study of the Classics is exactly the opposite, a great money saver, because it can provide courses in Greek and Latin roots for SAT and MCAS prep. What book are you currently reading? I am reading Sidney Blumenthal's The Clinton Wars because I am fascinated with the Clintons and especially want to understand the political trends under Clinton's presidency. I am fascinated with the Whitewater issue and all of the various rumors connected with he and Hillary. As a progressive myself, I can relate to certain things and ways others act who are not familiar with how this ideology operates. When people have fear of what will happen, in this case change, they react in strange ways. I want to read Hillary's book next. If you could travel back to ancient Rome, what five items would you take with you from the present? Great Question: 1)My new Saturn Ion3 because it has a Classical name. 2) My iMac and laptop to record all of my impressions and reactions 3) My cellular phone for quick communication purposes. 4) My washer/dryer because I think it would be quicker than the fuller. 5) My Venus razor because it also has a Classical name.

Pat Diplillo is a Latin and Foreign Language teacher at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. Pat is the winner of AbleMedia's Gold, Silver, and Bronze Chalice awards for her submission of Unearthing the Lost City of ABurbe-Suburbe. What is the best advice you have ever received? To appreciate what my parents did for me because it has touched every part of my life. When and where in the Classical World would you have liked to live? Right in Rome under Augustus. It seemed to be a time when the city prospered and life was free from stress and war. How would you like to be remembered? I hope that people would know that I was President of the Latin Club at GLS, won a scholarship to study Latin in college, have a Fulbright and studied at the American Academy in Rome, was President of CAM, have many students win awards on the National Latin Exam, including perfect scores, students who have won prizes in CANE'S writing contest, have taken students to Greece and Italy on educational trips, make many presentations to my colleagues on classical topics and in general, promote the study of the language in any way I can. If it were possible, with whom, dead or alive, from the world outside of Classical Studies would you like to have dinner? Probably Mick Jagger, Keith Richard and the Rolling Stones. What law, rule, event, or custom from Classical times would you like to see reincarnated today? Well kind of morbid, but the power of the paterfamilias. I don't think kids would be very likely to do anything wrong if they knew that their dad had the power of life and death over them. What is one thing about Classical Studies you wished your students understood? Their timelessness. I studied the Classics because my dad always told me 'things change but people don't change'. So, I want them to understand that the ancients thought and felt the same ways we do, it is only that the times have changed. What is the most interesting thing in your car right now? I guess the sunroof for me. I don't cart a lot of stuff around with me. What literary character do you most resemble? Scarlet O'Hara for sure. What would have you become if not a Classicist? An artist I think. If you had been born a boy/girl, what would your name have been? Patrick, I guess. Summarize yourself in the title of a Classics paper. "Survivors of the Ancient World" What would be the title of your autobiography? " I Did It My Way" If it were possible, with whom, dead or alive, from Classical times would you want to deliver your eulogy? Aeneas most definitely. What five albums would you want to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island? The works of Bela Bartok; John Cage, Hayden, Vivaldi, and Mozart.