Alumni Spotlight: Nare Kupelian

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

I was born and raised in Glendale, California. I currently live in Los Angeles, California.

 

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

I began my volunteer experience when I was 23 years old in the summer of 2012. I had just graduated from UC San Diego and decided to head to Armenia before starting graduate school. I volunteered with AYF Youth Corps for the first six-weeks. Through AYF Youth Corps, we led summer day camps for youth in Stepanakert, Gyumri, and Broshyan. After completing the Youth Corps program, I relocated to Gyumri, where I completed another five weeks of volunteer work at the Shirak branch of the A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Center.

 

What did you do after you finished your volunteer service?

I had a very hard time leaving Armenia after completing my Birthright service. I still remember the mental and emotional turmoil I went through during my last week in Gyumri. I had to have intense mental dialogues with myself at Zvartnots Airport, convincing myself to get on that flight back to the US.

I had a hard time leaving because I did not feel like I was ready to leave. There was still so much more to see and experience and that my time there was just not done. Yet, I came to the realization that no matter how much time I spent, I was still going to feel like I was “limited” with regards to all that I hoped to accomplish in Armenia. Thus, I left with the precondition that there will need to be a definite plan for me to return.

I came back to the United States in September and dived right into my Ph.D. program exactly three days after my plane landed.

 

What are you currently doing?

I am currently a Ph.D. student in History at UCLA. My field of specialization is European History, particularly Intellectual History. I am also affiliated with the Armenian Studies department, as I focus particularly on the development of critical thought in Armenian communities. Throughout my years as an undergraduate, I developed an interest in political philosophy and history. In pursuing intellectual history, I feel as if both of my obsessions came together to create this obscure field that I am trying to get to know. My research focuses on the history of ideas and thinkers within Armenian communities. I am interested in tracing the development of thought in post-Ottoman Armenian communities, particularly how that context facilitated the shift from ethnoreligious to ethnocultural communities. I am interested in the concepts of nationalism and ethnic-ism and how these theories affect ethnic and national identity in communities under different governance structures. Essentially, my goal is to trace the development of Armenian identity throughout by analyzing the emergence and influence of various ideas and thinkers.

 

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

Birthright was a gateway for me. This was not my first time visiting Armenia, but it was my first time seeing Armenia personally. Before Birthright, Armenia was more of a monolithic concept for me. We spent summer vacations there. We constantly talked about it at home and at Armenian school. Yet, Armenia was always at an arm’s length. Engaging with Armenia was more obligatory, rather than voluntary. You didn’t question it, you just did it.

Birthright allowed me to realize that Armenia was not as elusive as I had perceived it to be. There were questions and issues that I had with Armenia that I was always too afraid to look into. I had always thought that it was too complex to figure out. This experience allowed me to realize that I could do good work here and actually enjoy it. Armenia was no longer a feel-good summer trip for me. It became the subject of so many curiosities. Essentially, my graduate work began to shape itself around these curiosities. The experiences that I had with Birthright allowed me to see Armenia (and myself as an Armenian, my identity as an Armenian, the community I grew up in) in a different context. I knew that by delving into these curiosities, I finally had an avenue for trying to figure these things out. The more I try to figure Armenia out, the more comfortable I become with it. But also, the more I discover about Armenia only leads to more questions and curiosities. I’ve come to accept that questions are a good thing, for they lead to answers that eventually become innovative solutions.

 

Have you been to Armenia since your volunteer experience?  What year and for what purpose(s)?

I have been to Armenia three times after my volunteer service. It was my mission to experience Armenia during every season. Thus far, autumn in Armenia has proven to be my favorite. I came to Armenia in October of 2013 to participate in the Second International Conference on Armenian Studies. The conference was hosted by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. I had the opportunity to present my research findings to Armenian Studies scholars from various countries and to participate in workshops about future developments in the field.

I returned to Armenia in January of 2015, where I worked with a committee at Yerevan State University to organize a seminar on nationalism and revolutionary movements. My next trip was in July of 2015, where I spent a month poring through archives and collecting all sort of research documents.

 

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

My life after my volunteer experience has become very busy and hectic, but also very rewarding. I am a full time graduate student. I also try to find time for things that are important to me, particularly family, friends and community. I place great value in being involved in the Armenian community. Thus, I am currently working as the Executive Director of the San Gabriel Valley chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America. I work on identifying issues that are relevant for the Armenian community in this specific region by establishing networks.

This will also be my seventh year as an executive board member of the All-Armenian Student Association, which is an umbrella organization of the various Armenian college organizations around the US. Early on in its foundation, we developed a vision for what we would like this organization to be in the next ten years. It has been a privilege to work with the most talented students in creating a forum for Armenian college students to exchange ideas and form networks. The Armenian Student Association at UC San Diego was an integral part of my college experience, essentially becoming a support system for me. I would want every college student to have the same. Colleges are essentially the “think-tanks” of society, where students challenge norms and come up with innovative solutions. We should work to foster a strong community of Armenian students who are able to discuss important issues, identify problems, and work to solve them.

 

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

Hopefully, I will finish my degree within the next four years and take a stab at entering the world of academia. I want to continue my research and develop a lot of the ideas that I have been dabbling in for the past couple of years. Ideally, I would like to teach at a research university.

I am theoretical, but I am also practical. So, I would also want to work in alternative academia careers for a few years. I am considering careers in graduate counseling, publishing, and educational administration.

Judging from my trajectory, I will probably still be working with the All-ASA. (lol)

 

Additional thoughts you might want to share with the readers:

I would be the first to admit that I am not a very optimistic person. My initial reaction to almost anything is very critical. But I believe that there is a difference between being critical and being negative. I believe that, especially in discussions revolving around Armenia, we have stigmatized criticism. There is a taboo against saying anything remotely negative about Armenia. Everyone approaches Armenia in a different way. If I were to view the issues in Armenia with such an optimistic eye, I would never feel the need to work on any of them. Whereas when I am critical of things (not negative), I begin to think in terms of solutions. These big monolithic concepts become more approachable and tangible for me. I am not inspired by the belief that Armenia can be a better place, I am driven by the knowledge that there are things that I can do to make Armenia a better place. It’s all about taking the initial steps, like participating in Birthright, which allows a person to see where they fall in this spectrum. Thereby, they can begin to carve their own niche and find their “home” in Armenia. Like I mentioned, everyone approaches Armenia in a different way. The key is to manifest your approach into a mutually beneficial relationship with Armenia.  We don’t come here as saviors. We come to become students and find fundamental grounds for asking the difficult questions, with hopes that they lead to sustainable answers.