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Active Living
Allow me to introduce myself. While I have curly black hair, like to sing, and have a name that looks almost like Annie (it’s Ani), my life has quite little in common with the freckled, redhead, “Little Orphan Annie.” For one thing, I am Armenian, and this makes all the difference - ask those who know me, and without a doubt you’ll find out how true this is!
As a first generation Armenian-American, I sometimes feel as though I am of a dying breed, and I think in many ways, this feeling has propelled me to emphasize my Armenian Orthodox faith and heritage in all that I do in my life. But it’s been tricky sometimes, if not trying, to straddle two worlds linked by a common humanity, and little else – my Armenian world, and my American world.
As a young child, I used to tell my father that during the week I was American, and on the weekends I was Armenian – school was a time for my American friends, and the weekends for my Armenian ones. I thought that defined who I am. Of course, that doesn’t hold true anymore, but instead, kind of like tossing a salad, everything gets mixed and mingled.
As a college student, I find I’m often forced to rethink my life and who I am. Perfect example: I just passed in a 10-page autobiography today, describing myself and why I want to be a doctor. After 2 months of writing it, I still feel like the conclusions I can draw from it are incomplete.
True, I have the skeleton of some of my answers, but also true is that I am far from self-discovery, from knowing myself - and I’m learning that that’s OK. It makes sense that it took me 2 months to write 10 pages about myself, and I can only imagine how differently I will view what I wrote 2 months from now. Nothing is static, and even change evolves. We shouldn’t take it for granted that we’re evolving, but instead make a conscious effort to move our lives in a purposeful direction. I can’t help but draw an analogy to what one of my professors encourages: Active Learning, except in this case, it’d be Active Living.
By
Ani Nalbandian
|
February 15, 2008; 10:54 PM ET
| Category:
Orthodox Idyll
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Posted by: Kenar | April 4, 2008 9:59 AM
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industry is annually employed in pruducing corn than in producing if, upon some particular occasion, he is obliged to attempt it, will scarce,
Posted by: Sharon | March 27, 2008 12:26 AM
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industry is annually employed in pruducing corn than in producing if, upon some particular occasion, he is obliged to attempt it, will scarce,
Posted by: Sharon | March 27, 2008 12:25 AM
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'...even change evolves.'
That's brilliant.
I'm really proud of you kid!
Posted by: CJ | March 9, 2008 3:31 AM
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Great article, and great insight Ani. Can't wait for the next one!
Posted by: Gabriella | February 22, 2008 6:35 PM
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Nareg,
It seems you didn't read what I wrote.
At the top of my comment, in capital letters, I made clear that I was addressing my comment to the nameless scribe at the Washington Post who had misspelled "Worcester", and not to Ani.
I'm sure she knows how to spell (and pronounce) the name of the city where she's a student.
I also liked her essay.
Best wishes.
P.S., Nareg, I'll offer you the same advice I was given at a young age, now sadly past:
"Strive for precision in thought and action, and particularly in writing and READING."
Posted by: Norrie Hoyt | February 20, 2008 7:56 AM
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I feel like beating up "Norrie Hoyt" and the comment he made! hehe congrats for all that you accomplished/continue to do. a inspiration to the armenian community!
Posted by: Nareg | February 18, 2008 1:02 AM
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Rock it Ani! You are so awesome!
Posted by: Greg Avdoian | February 17, 2008 2:33 PM
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Wow!!! Ani, you continue to amaze me! Congratulations to you, and to your parents for raising such an incredible young woman.
Posted by: Christine Koobatian | February 17, 2008 7:59 AM
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A finer example of a young adult of Armenian American heritage there could never be! Ani,you make me so proud to be an orthodox American Armenian!
Posted by: Linda Terzian Cartiglia | February 17, 2008 12:52 AM
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Wonderful! There could be no one better to represent what an Armenian American really is.
Posted by: Susan | February 16, 2008 8:58 PM
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Wonderful! There could be no one better to represent what an Armenian American really is.
Posted by: Susan | February 16, 2008 8:57 PM
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Ani, exquisitely and so sincerely written.. .You really let us see who you are (for starters!)As one of your teachers, I've always felt you are a gem and now so many others will know that. You are a role model to people of all ages. May God continue to guide you on your amazing journey. Bravo! I can't wait to learn more. And bravo to your parents for instilling in you the Armenian Christian tradition which helps you to make a difference with all people.
Posted by: Dottie Bengoian | February 16, 2008 5:56 PM
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Excellent Ani! BRAVO!
Posted by: Maral Nalbandian | February 16, 2008 5:06 PM
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TO THE WASHINGTON POST:
You Wrote:
"Ani Nalbandian is a junior at the College of the Holy Cross in Worchester [sic], Mass."
Sorry, but it's spelled WORCESTER.
Bet you don't know how to pronounce it either. So please read this:
[from:
http://www.worcestermass.com/pronounce/worcestercounty.shtml]
Worcester
WAR-CHES-TAH
This is the incorrect way to say it. Someone from the south who doesn't know the proper pronunciation, trying to fake the accent.
WOO-STAH
This is the correct way to say it. This is the pronunciation used by most of the residents of the city and surrounding areas.
WIS-TAH
This is the correct way to say it. This is the pronunciation used mostly by people north of the city.
WOO-STER
This is the correct way to say it. This is the pronunciation used by people who have lived elsewhere and either now live in Worcester, or somewhere else.
WUSS-TAH
This is the incorrect way to say it. is the pronunciation used by most of the residents of the city and surrounding areas when they're putting down the city.
WAR-CHEST-ER
This is the incorrect way to say it. This is the pronunciation used by people from south of the Mason-Dixon line who have seen it in print. These are generally the people you hang up on when they call you, since they're telemarketers.
WAR-SES-TER
This is the incorrect way to say it. This is the other popular mis-pronunciation I hear often, this one I understand a little better, it sort-of looks like it should be said this way.
WOOSTER
This is the incorrect way to say it. This is how the name is spelled when someone outside of the region is trying to write down your address over the phone.
WORM-TOWN
This is how you pronounce the name, if you're a brain dead Boston D.J. or visiting college student. Of course the origin is a little more interesting and flattering than it's now corrupted meaning.
GRITTY OLD MILL TOWN
This is how you spell the name if you're the New York Times (as stated when discussing why Bruce Springsteen started one of his tours in the Centrum). Needless to say, we like to spell their name CRIME RIDDEN CESSPOOL.
Posted by: Norrie Hoyt | February 16, 2008 4:19 PM
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Good luck to you in your journey, Ani!
Posted by: Norrie Hoyt | February 16, 2008 3:49 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Ani:
I am so proud of you. You never stop to amaze me with whatever you do.
Bravo to your parents for instilling in you what is the best.