BY PATTYL APOSHIAN KASPARIAN
Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. They are male and female, young and old, bi-lingual and multi-lingual. They are raised wealthy and poor, obtain advanced degrees or drop out of college. Studies have been unable to identify any type of consistent similarity among these people. If you ask me, early school discipline and environment play a substantial role in leadership.
Just look at Chamlian and its alumni base. Chamlian alumni fill top posts in diverse industries—from corporate America to celebrated entrepreneurs and community activists. I become nostalgic when I remember my days at Chamlian. So many things have stayed constant—enabling the school to stay rooted to its vision yet so much has changed to keep up with the students and the times.
As we admire the accomplishments and successes of our past students, we pay tribute to our faculty and staff. This year, as Chamlian celebrates its 40th milestone anniversary, 15 esteemed teachers and administrators will be honored with the “Teachers in Service” award for their dedication to Chamlian Armenian School and its student population. Honorees will be awarded for enriching, and continuing to enrich, the educational lifeline of thousands of students at the Annual Banquet on Saturday, February 21st, 2015 at the Taglyan Complex.
As a Chamlian alumnus and current parent, I’ve come to realize that Chamlian Armenian School’s greatest strength lies in the people who make up this exceptional community.
Three decades ago, our parents walked us through the gates of Chamlian and entrusted the safekeeping, molding and firming of their most valuable assets to its leadership. Now, as parents, we too share the same responsibilities as our parents but under more strained time restraints. We rush our kids off to school—half dressed, half prepared and sometimes half willing. “Yella. Let’s go. Arak arak” my kids imitate me every morning during drop-off—but as I turn the driveway, I take a deep breath and smile—confident that my kids are in the most capable hands just like I was so long ago.
On behalf of Chamlian’s alumni, we congratulate the “Teachers in Service” recipients for this great honor. We thank you for the extra push to excel and the boost of confidence to take the extra step. We thank you for reinforcing the importance of manners, discipline and ethics. We thank you for creating a nurturing environment and for preparing us for the future.
Just as we look back to reminisce, we must look forward to advance. The evolution of our youth will move beyond all of our imaginations. Today’s youth challenge the status-quo. They see new ways to do things, new products to create, new processes with which to create them, and new cultures to stimulate with their ideas.
What better way to show our appreciation and gratitude to the community that will lead our children, the leaders of tomorrow, than to witness the celebratory ceremony at Chamlian’s Annual Banquet. To reserve your seat, please contact (818) 957-3398.
Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School was founded in Glendale, California in 1975, and is one of eight Armenian Schools throughout Southern California governed by the Board of Regents of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
