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UCLA MEMORIAL HONORS ALLEN AND SOSE'S LEGACY
http://asbarez.com/110417/ucla-memorial-honors-allen-and-sose%E2%80%99s-legacy/
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013
Sose Thomassian and Allen Yekikian
BY ANI GARIBYAN
>From the UCLA Buin
On Thursday, May 30, I walked in and sat down in a familiar seat in
Bunche 1209B - a room where I once used to study Ottoman history. That
same room, on that Thursday, was used to remember two friends,
two fellow Bruins, Sose Thomassian and Allen Yekikian, who passed
away in an auto collision on May 10 in the country of Georgia. Sose
graduated from UCLA in 2006 with degrees in sociology and psychology,
and Allen graduated the following year with a degree in history and
a minor in Armenian studies.
UCLA will always be with me throughout my life. From time to time,
I reminisce about my classes, professors, extracurricular activities,
friends, classmates, late nights, etc. Now, I will add that Thursday
evening to my memory - a room full of family, friends, professors
and strangers who were there to remember and celebrate the lives of
Allen and Sose.
Sose, Allen and I, along with many other Bruins, were a part of the
Armenian Youth Federation, and as such, our lives were filled with
more than what was taking place on campus.
Sose would vanpool to UCLA from Irvine and on several occasions she
and I would drive to Glendale to participate in federation meetings.
Our schedules were extremely full, but we had a purpose and goal in
mind that would outweigh our sleepless nights as UCLA students.
Allen, too, was just as crazy. One of his professors perfectly stated
that Allen did not just learn - he devoured information. He would
always question things, even his professors. That's how I remember
him in our federation meetings. He would always question the norm,
would always seek to understand why, and would not rest until he
found a better solution.
Though Sose and Allen both graduated from UCLA, they did not meet
there; they met at an annual federation convention. At first, they
would secretly meet each other, trying to keep it a secret from their
federation family (where word can spread very quickly), but members
began to catch on as neither Allen nor Sose could hide their feelings
toward each other while attending the federation's organized events.
The purpose of our sleepless nights at UCLA was quickly becoming
reality for Allen and Sose. They married in Armenia on August 11, 2012
with their closest friends and family - a destination wedding at home
- their motherland. This was to be the first page of their chapters
in Armenia. In early 2013, the couple repatriated to Armenia. Allen
began his new position as director of communications at the American
University of Armenia, where Sose began studying Eastern Armenian.
Their blog, How to Make it in Armenia, was a way to show others that it
is possible to live in Armenia, a developing country eager to advance.
The newlyweds had set off to Georgia to understand their neighboring
country and to see for themselves the rich history and culture that
Armenians have left behind there.
Unfortunately, the couple's first real trip as newlyweds was cut short
on May 10. Their passing sent waves of shock throughout the world,
especially the Armenian community. They were living the lives most
of us can only dream of living, and we were living that dream through
them. Now they're gone, and the dream that had become reality through
them too slipped away. We lost two people who were making a difference
in this world, two people who still had so much to give.
The Sose and Allen Legacy Fund has been created to continue Sose
and Allen's vision by establishing programs and supporting existing
programs aimed at bridging the gap between Armenia and its Diaspora,
through emphasis on education, repatriation and volunteerism within
the homeland. Contributions can be made to:
Sose and Allen's Legacy Fund 104 N. Belmont St. Suite 313 Glendale,
CA 91206
Garibyan graduated UCLA in 2005 with a degree in history.
http://asbarez.com/110417/ucla-memorial-honors-allen-and-sose%E2%80%99s-legacy/
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013
Sose Thomassian and Allen Yekikian
BY ANI GARIBYAN
>From the UCLA Buin
On Thursday, May 30, I walked in and sat down in a familiar seat in
Bunche 1209B - a room where I once used to study Ottoman history. That
same room, on that Thursday, was used to remember two friends,
two fellow Bruins, Sose Thomassian and Allen Yekikian, who passed
away in an auto collision on May 10 in the country of Georgia. Sose
graduated from UCLA in 2006 with degrees in sociology and psychology,
and Allen graduated the following year with a degree in history and
a minor in Armenian studies.
UCLA will always be with me throughout my life. From time to time,
I reminisce about my classes, professors, extracurricular activities,
friends, classmates, late nights, etc. Now, I will add that Thursday
evening to my memory - a room full of family, friends, professors
and strangers who were there to remember and celebrate the lives of
Allen and Sose.
Sose, Allen and I, along with many other Bruins, were a part of the
Armenian Youth Federation, and as such, our lives were filled with
more than what was taking place on campus.
Sose would vanpool to UCLA from Irvine and on several occasions she
and I would drive to Glendale to participate in federation meetings.
Our schedules were extremely full, but we had a purpose and goal in
mind that would outweigh our sleepless nights as UCLA students.
Allen, too, was just as crazy. One of his professors perfectly stated
that Allen did not just learn - he devoured information. He would
always question things, even his professors. That's how I remember
him in our federation meetings. He would always question the norm,
would always seek to understand why, and would not rest until he
found a better solution.
Though Sose and Allen both graduated from UCLA, they did not meet
there; they met at an annual federation convention. At first, they
would secretly meet each other, trying to keep it a secret from their
federation family (where word can spread very quickly), but members
began to catch on as neither Allen nor Sose could hide their feelings
toward each other while attending the federation's organized events.
The purpose of our sleepless nights at UCLA was quickly becoming
reality for Allen and Sose. They married in Armenia on August 11, 2012
with their closest friends and family - a destination wedding at home
- their motherland. This was to be the first page of their chapters
in Armenia. In early 2013, the couple repatriated to Armenia. Allen
began his new position as director of communications at the American
University of Armenia, where Sose began studying Eastern Armenian.
Their blog, How to Make it in Armenia, was a way to show others that it
is possible to live in Armenia, a developing country eager to advance.
The newlyweds had set off to Georgia to understand their neighboring
country and to see for themselves the rich history and culture that
Armenians have left behind there.
Unfortunately, the couple's first real trip as newlyweds was cut short
on May 10. Their passing sent waves of shock throughout the world,
especially the Armenian community. They were living the lives most
of us can only dream of living, and we were living that dream through
them. Now they're gone, and the dream that had become reality through
them too slipped away. We lost two people who were making a difference
in this world, two people who still had so much to give.
The Sose and Allen Legacy Fund has been created to continue Sose
and Allen's vision by establishing programs and supporting existing
programs aimed at bridging the gap between Armenia and its Diaspora,
through emphasis on education, repatriation and volunteerism within
the homeland. Contributions can be made to:
Sose and Allen's Legacy Fund 104 N. Belmont St. Suite 313 Glendale,
CA 91206
Garibyan graduated UCLA in 2005 with a degree in history.