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Essays relay a message
Winners of a writing contest expressed themselves around the theme of the Armenian genocide.
Parishioners at St. Peter Armenian Church came
not only to worship on Sunday, but they also stayed to congratulate the winners
of the church youth ministries' Inaugural Youth Writing Contest.
Five area teens received awards and gifts for the essays they submitted on the
theme of "The Life of My Armenian Family During the Genocide."
"Our kids have a lot to say but never have a way
of saying it," said Vazken Movsesian, priest and director of St. Peter Armenian
Church Youth Ministries Center. "This writing contest gives them the opportunity
to talk and share with us."
About 40 teenagers submitted their writings for the contest, Movsesian said.
Ari Jon Filian, a Pasadena resident, took home first place for his essay
"Families Not Forgotten."
Ari, 16, a student at Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School in Altadena, wrote
a fictional story about a boy who seeks revenge after his family is killed
during the Armenian genocide. His essay was based around the stories his
great-grandparents shared with him about the genocide.
"I wanted to honor them," Ari said of his great-grandparents, who were both
genocide survivors. "It was a way for me to honor my ancestors and keep their
memory alive."
For the first-place prize, Ari received an Apple Macbook and a certificate.
Glendale resident Talar Kakilian, 15, won second place for her essay, "Seeds of
a Pomegranate."
Talar, who was awarded with an iPod, wrote an essay in the first person,
depicting the struggles of the genocide, as told by survivors.
Talar felt writing in the first person would allow her to express her thoughts
about the Armenian identity, she said. Her essay, she hopes, will inspire other
Armenian teens to get in touch with their culture.
"They should be very proud to be Armenian," Talar said. "They should do whatever
they can to make themselves Armenian."
The committee that selected the winners of the writing contest made their
decisions based on the references the writers made about Armenian themes, said
Linda Zadoian, a committee judge.
A theme, for example, would be the similar stories that Armenians tell of the
events of the genocide, Zadoian said.
"Every Armenian has some kind of story that attaches us to the genocide," she
said.
The committee also selected two teens to receive honorable mentions for their
work.
Pasadena resident Nvart Baytaryan, 14, wrote an essay titled "Traumatic" after
listening to her grandmother's account of the atrocities.
"I want people to understand what we went through," Nvart said. "I want everyone
to know more and realize how tough times were."
Nvart, who was given a $50 gift card for Abril Bookstore, has decided to
continue her hand at writing essays in hopes of inspiring other teens, she
added.
Her mother, Hermine, felt proud of her daughter's accomplishment.
"I'm very proud that my daughter and others like her can continue learning about
Armenian history," she said.
Marineh Yesayan, of Glendale, was also recognized with a honorable mention for
her essay, "A Tear from the Diaspora."
The 15-year-old did her background research on the history of the genocide and
wrote an essay based on her great-grandmother's recollection of the events that
unfolded 90 years ago.
"The fact that they were able to survive even though they were going to be
exterminated, that's pretty incredible," Marineh, said of her
great-grandmother's struggle.
To read the award-winning essays, visit
www.inhisshoes.org
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2007/02/12/features/gnp-contest12.txt