Zorianna Petrosyan’s Summer Studies at AUA

5 min read

Zorianna Petrosyan is a student at the University of Vermont currently majoring in Theatre and minoring in Music Technology & Business and Political Science. Beyond academics, she has a passion for the arts and a dedication to activism, particularly in matters related to the youth. She is currently taking a summer course as an international student at the American University of Armenia (AUA). We sat down with Zorianna to get to know her better and learn about her academic and professional aspirations.

What motivated you to come to AUA for a summer course as an international student?

The idea of coming to Armenia for a summer course at AUA was my mom’s. My parents are Armenian, and my mom thought it would be a great opportunity for me to spend an extended period of time living in Armenia and truly experiencing the local culture.

With that objective, I started looking for a program to take while I’m here, and that’s when I came upon AUA and the courses offered in the summer. I found the “Special Topics in Social Sciences” course that sounded really cool like a fascinating philosophy class would be. So, I decided to give it a shot and applied for it, and I was thrilled when they told me I got accepted!

Were there challenges you faced as an international student at AUA, and if yes, how did you overcome them?

Coming from the United States (where I was born and live now) and being currently enrolled in the University of Vermont, which has a rural campus, everything seemed different. So, when I first got to AUA, one of the challenges I faced was figuring out how things work around here. I recall my confusion between the two buildings trying to find my way to the cafeteria. Additionally, forming connections with classmates was daunting, considering the English-taught classes and Armenian-speaking students.

My roommate had friends at AUA, and thanks to her, I got to meet many cool people. The more I got to know them, the more I felt like being a part of the AUA community. Additionally, AUA event announcement emails kept me informed about various activities, although I couldn’t attend some due to conflicts with my class schedule.

In what ways has studying at AUA during the summer contributed to your personal and academic growth?

I’ve done some summer pre-college programs and taken a few classes, but this is my first time studying abroad and taking a semester-long course. The subject of the course I’m taking is interesting. 

One cool thing about taking a summer course is that it’s actually helping me get ready for the fall semester back home. I know I’ll have many classes waiting for me, so staying focused throughout summer is a smart move. And on top of that, being in Armenia has this special way of connecting me with my roots and family.

Moreover, I’m happy to explore the different majors available here and experience the unique AUA culture. Witnessing the differences between an American university in Armenia and the U.S. has also been an interesting experience.

Have you had the opportunity to engage with the local community or participate in cultural exchange programs while studying at AUA? If so, can you tell us about your experiences?

I haven’t formally joined any community programs, but being here in Yerevan and spending time with my relatives has been such a special and unique experience! It’s like getting a taste of authentic Armenian life. Beyond Yerevan, I’ve had the chance to visit places outside the city, such as Gyumri, Dilijan, and Jermuk. Exploring different places has allowed me to learn more about Armenian culture in a way that goes beyond merely reading about it or growing up in an Armenian family outside of Armenia. 

One moment that really stood out for me was Vardavar, the traditional Armenian holiday. My relatives had mentioned it to me, but I did not know what to expect. So there I was, walking around Republic Square, minding my own business, when I suddenly got splashed! It was so much fun and made the whole experience even more exciting! Seeing the children joyfully running around in the churchyard splashing onto one another on that day, added to the spontaneity of the experience. 

What resources and support does AUA provide to help international students succeed academically and adapt to campus life?

There’s the International Student Services office and Anzhela Balasanyan there. She’s been helping me a lot. Whenever I’ve had questions, she’s been right there, always ready to help me out. She’s been such an invaluable resource for me. The admissions office has been super helpful too! They said, “Hey, if you ever need anything, just come by!” It’s that warm and friendly with Armenian culture shining through, I guess. People here are just so welcoming and open.

Then there was when I lost my sunglasses once, and everyone around came to help me find them. I never felt like an outsider here, even though I’m not 100% fluent in Armenian. Everyone’s been so friendly.

Are there any specific professors or courses at AUA that have had a significant impact on your academic journey? If so, how?

Since I’m taking only one class, I find the professor, Arshak Balayan, to be very interesting in how he teaches and engages the students in the subject matter. Even though summer classes tend to be more compressed than those in the fall or spring semesters, I don’t really feel like the class is dragging on. He keeps us engaged and interested throughout. 

What advice would you give to other international students who may consider studying at AUA during the summer?

Don’t worry if you don’t find many people coming from the exact same location as you. You’ll still have plenty of opportunities to make friends and feel like you’re a part of the AUA community. It’s a small campus, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The campus is great, and studying here has been amazing. Coming to AUA from your home university, you get to experience a whole new environment while still having some familiarity with the subject matter because you’ve been in college.

What role does coming to AUA for the summer play in fostering a global perspective and cross-cultural understanding among Armenians?

Coming from the United States, where American culture permeates throughout society, it’s easy to get stuck in the American mindset. Not that it’s a bad thing, but you can become deeply immersed in an American environment. Coming to Armenia is my first time traveling alone, and it has been interesting. People often say that Armenia has this unique blend of European and Middle Eastern influences, which is just fascinating. Being here has allowed me to step out of that American mindset and experience things from a whole new perspective. I truly value that!

Armenia has this close connection to my heart and family, which makes this experience even more meaningful. Traveling alone has been so much fun and a liberating experience for me. It’s made me realize how exciting it is to explore new places, and I’m already looking forward to traveling to new destinations!

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations, and how did your AUA experience influence them?

I was going to come to Armenia anyway, but when I found out I could take a class at AUA, I was so happy. I had this strong desire to feel more connected to my Armenian roots because there aren’t many Armenians in the small town where I live in the United States. Living in the United States and not getting to speak Armenian as much as I’d like, I started feeling disconnected from Armenian culture, and so I knew coming here would be the perfect opportunity to reacquaint myself with my heritage.

One of my passions is activism and social justice; at school, I plan to minor in political science or public policy. I aspire to be an advocate for Armenian issues, especially in the United States, and increase Armenia’s visibility there. Now, I understand that just living here for a few months won’t automatically make me an ambassador for Armenia, but I’m determined to make a meaningful impact in the future.

I’ve set my sights on doing a program with the Armenian National Committee of America one day. The organization has this incredible program that gives young people the opportunity to head to Washington, DC, for a few weeks, engage with influential Armenian leaders in the United States, and learn about congressional policies and actions that affect Armenians and Armenia. Before I get there, I want to dive deep into Armenian history and politics. So, next year, I plan to apply for a program like that, and, who knows, maybe one day, I’ll be one of the voices advocating for Armenian issues on a larger scale.