OUR SMALL NATION

When people talk of Melkonian, they talk of a legend. The first year at the school I was still young and not mature, but I did notice one thing about the school, it was a nation amongst a nation. The actual school and the school time we spend makes up a really small percentage of the school’s identity when we mention the whole institute’s name. Needless to say Melkonian has by far the best teachers on the island and I’m sure as I went to the ‘so called’ best school in Cyprus and was not satisfied at all. At Melkonian we are truly blessed with our committed staff and their warmth towards us.

At my last school I was not only unsatisfied with the teaching but also the environment. Everyone lived in a dream. All the students just came to the school for school and that was it. There was no family atmosphere. Friends were just friends and that was it. Life for everyone was just so easy. Well life in reality is never going to be easy and I knew if I stayed in that school I would get a big shock when I left my family after graduation. I am sure I wouldn’t have found it easy to settle and build my self-esteem as I have done in Melkonian. In Melkonian, life is not always easy. Most of us pass through times of hardship and depression only to make us stronger individuals who can cope with simple everyday problems with ease. Of course we have wonderful times here with our friends. We pass moments and times together no other friends in this world can pass together. Most of us feel like brothers and sisters and we are strongly related to each others affairs. In this case a true family atmosphere within our school is created of which I think we should be proud of as it is the jewel of our school.

Most people like to talk about how the school brings the Armenian youth and community together and enriches our heritage and culture, but I personally believe the school has the beauty of helping each individual find themselves.

I know in myself that even after I graduate at the end of the school year I will discover further qualities of Melkonian, which I had not noticed  during four years at the school. You never completely know what you have until its gone.

Eugene Iltchibekian-Martin, alumnus of 2004 (Enland)