Get to know AGBU MHS Chef, Caroline Krikorian

by Daniel Yacoubian

On inspiration to become a chef:

I have been cooking most of my life with my mother.  As a young girl at the age of seven, I always enjoyed helping my mother in the kitchen. My mother was the first person to notice my passion and talent when it came to cooking and she always motivated me to follow my dreams.  I decided to become a chef.

On being a chef at AGBU MHS:

I still work for other private organizations. I do other business such as food catering. I saw AGBU as an opportunity to come here and cook. I think this lunch system with the computer makes the line go by very fast. It makes it easier for everyone to keep track of past purchases and prices.  

I really enjoy the students here. I enjoy being a chef at AGBU MHS. It's an honor serving the Armenian community. The students, faculty, and overall environment has made me feel like family. The feeling of being appreciated has made me love my job. I am glad every individual is satisfied with my work; I can't wait to share more with all of you!

On pastimes and the future:

I enjoy swimming and dancing on my free time. I also enjoy reading and spending time with family during off days. I am also working on an Armenian cook book full of great recipes passed down from generations.  It will also have my own dishes I want to share with the Armenian community. I believe our culture's dishes are so rich in flavor and should be passed down to all  upcoming generations in order to keep our Armenian identity.

Would you choose to live forever if you had the chance?

Interesting question!Yes, I would definitely want to live forever if I had the chance. Sometimes I feel life is way too short.   Life is a beautiful gift regardless of any circumstances, and if you are surrounded by the right people who love and care for you, life becomes precious. I still feel 16 at heart!

Պատուի Համար

12-րդ դասարանի աշակերտները, ծանօթանալէ ետք Շիրվանզադէի «Պատուի Համար» թատերախաղին, կը պատասխանեն Օրդ. Լորա Գույումճեանի հետեւեալ հարցումին:

Քեզի համար ի՞նչ կը ներկայացնէ «Պատիւ» բառը:

Քրիսչըն Ասատուրեան - Ամէն ընտանիք տարբեր ձեւով կ'ընկալէ «պատիւ» հասկացողութիւնը: Հօրս դաստիարակութեան համաձայն՝ պատիւը միայն դրամի հարց չէ, այլ՝ հաւատարմութիւն եւ յարգանք է:

Շատ դժուար է «Պատիւ»ը պահպանելը. շատ դիւրին է «Պատիւ» ը կորսնցնելը. բայց ամէնէն դժուարն է «Պատիւ» ը բարձր պահելը:

Շանթ Մինասեան - «Պատիւ»ը այն համբաւն ու բարի անունն է, որ կը հաւաքուի տարիների ընթացքին: Պատիւը կը կազմաւորուի տարբեր միջավայրերում ինչպէս ընտանեկան, ընկերային եւ դպրոցական: Մենք պատասխանատու ենք ամէն մի արարքի համար որ արժեւորում է «Պատիւ» հասկացողութիւնը:

Յովիկ Թապաքեան – Ամէն սկաուտ, իր առաջին բանակումի վերջաւորութեան երդում կու տայ եւ իր «Պատւոյն վրայ» կը խոստանայ հնազանդիլ օրէնքներուն: Ես պատիւը կշիռքի մը պատկերով կ'երեւակայեմ: Կշիռքը պարապ է ու նժարները հաւասար. մենք մեր գործունէութեամբ կը լեցնենք այդ կշիռքի երկու նժարները: Այդ նժարները կը ցոլացնեն թէ որքանով կը յարգենք մեր երդումը:

Հիմա արդէն գիտեմ, որ այդ երդումը ոչ միայն խոստում է, այլ՝ գիտակցութիւն եւ պատասխանատւութիւն:

Dare to Succeed: Advice for Our Spartans

My story is directed to the younger classes as they start to pave their way through challenging classes and extracurricular activities.   In the effort to build your resume and distinguish your unique talents, I encourage each of you to take chances.  The old adage, “you never know unless you try,” is one I hope you all take to heart.

Two years ago, the summer after my sophomore year, I was staring at my computer screen wondering if I should push the “send” button.  I had just written an email to a renowned international researcher requesting a visit to his biochemistry research lab at UCLA. I did not know anyone at this facility nor did I have any connections, but I was very interested in what they were studying. Every possible doubt filled my head. “Are you seriously going to send this Vahe?” I was thinking to myself.  “You are just a student. They probably ignore emails like this every day.  Don’t waste your time.”  

This is why I am writing this article for the blog. Because, I did push the “send” button.  I also pushed all the negative thoughts out of mind. I believed in myself.  I sent the email at 8:30 am.  At 12:30pm, I had received a response from Dr. Martin Hewison, a renowned British researcher who was heading the Hewison Research Lab at UCLA. He invited me to stop by, visit him, and meet the team.  The rest is history.

By the time the next summer rolled around, I was suited up in a UCLA research lab coat and was splicing RNA, and conducting gel electrophoresis. This incredible opportunity would never have happened if I hadn’t taken a chance. I hope this story illustrates how doors can open if you are willing to take risks.  Believe in yourself.  And never be afraid to press “send.”

Vahe Yacoubian

Class of 2016