Alumni Spotlight: Casey Edgarian

Where were you born? And where do you currently live?

I was born in San Diego, California. I'm currently living in Tehran, Iran. 

When you were a volunteer, how old were you, where did you volunteer and for how long?

I volunteered from September, 2014 to March, 2015 and I was 21 when I started Birthright. I spent most of my time in Yerevan, and I lived for about a month in Shushi. 

What did you do after you finished your volunteer service?

After I finished volunteering, I backpacked for six months. I traveled around Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates. After that, I went home for a month to figure out my life and then I found out I received my Iranian visa, so I hopped on that opportunity and now I'm here!

 
What are you currently doing?

I'm just about to start a Master's in Iranian Studies at the University of Tehran. In previous years, Americans who applied for the program weren't able to secure visas, so I will be one of the first full-time American students in Iran. 

How has Birthright Armenia’s experience played a role in your life, and when choosing your life’s path?

I truly believe that Birthright Armenia set the foundation for my career. I got to make connections with a lot of like-minded diasporans from around the world and work at internships that I wouldn't have been able to secure in the U.S. BR was also a great bridge for coming to Iran. My family originally comes from the region around Khoy and Nakhijevan, so this was a natural transition after first living in Armenia. As a result of the connections I made in Yerevan, I got to connect with the Armenian community in Tehran, who are helping me get settled and better acquainted with the city. 

 
What is the biggest change you’ve had in your life since you were a volunteer?

I have become a lot more adventurous when I compare to how I was before coming to Armenia. I think if I hadn't lived in Armenia, I wouldn't have ever considered living in Iran.

 

Where do you see yourself in the 5-10 years?

To be honest, I didn't even know I would be here a couple of weeks ago, so I have no idea where I will be in the next 5-10 years. Hopefully I'll be living comfortably with a nice-paying job. If you're reading this and would like to hire me, please let me know.