The Last Bell is ringing at all schools in Armenia today. Hayern Aysor’s interlocutors are the “culprits” of the day, that is, the graduates of the Eurnekian School of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. They shared their precious memories of school with smiles on their faces and with a little melancholy…

Tigranuhi Mkrtchyan:

“I feel like they’re taking a small part of me”

Hayern Aysor: How do you feel before graduation?

Tigranuhi Mkrtchyan: Frankly, I have trouble finding the words to describe my feelings. At first sight, my years at school were ordinary years that have drawn to an end, but after thinking long and hard, I realize that this time I’m leaving not just for the three-month summer vacation, but forever, and that’s the saddest part.

Hayern Aysor: The symbol of the Last Bell…

T. M.: The Last Bell…It’s a day when our years of being carefree draw to an end. It’s a day of smiles, teary eyes and endless memories.

Hayern Aysor: The school years…

T. M.: Each year is memorable, but I would set aside the years in high school, which were the greatest and unforgettable years…

Hayern Aysor: Memorable episodes from the days in school…

T. M.: In the beginning of the last academic year, on September 22, we decided to order fast food. We collected the money and ordered the food. We were waiting impatiently for our orders (you can probably imagine how hungry we were). They brought the orders, but we didn’t get them. My headmaster found out, got very angry for not warning her and took our orders from us. We went hungry the whole day, but that was a nice memory.

Hayern Aysor: How were the years in school?

T. M.: They were so good that I don’t want to graduate. I don’t want this fairy tale to end. It lasted 12 years. I’m leaving a piece of my heart with my large family where I came as a child and am leaving as a mature person.

Hayern Aysor: Memories of teachers, the headmaster and classmates…

T. M.: My headmaster was my elder friend, my counselor, and I can surely say that I will always remember his advice. It will help keep me away from making mistakes. I have made my teachers angry many times throughout the years, but the forgiving and understanding teachers have tolerated all my mischief. Every second with my friends, teachers and headmaster is precious and memorable. Now as I have to separate from them, I feel like they’re taking a small part of me.

Hayern Aysor: My headmaster is…

T. M.: Comrade Sargsyan, your, as you say, “abnormal one” is graduating from school. Remember that I love you very much and want you to always smile, be healthy and, most importantly, I want you to always be with us.

Ani Sayadyan: “I have a spiritual connection and am in harmony with my headmaster, teachers and classmates”

Hayern Aysor: How do you feel before graduation?

Ani Sayadyan: I have mixed emotions and can’t describe them. I’m happy, nervous and melancholic and feel uncertainty. I can’t describe my feelings because this is an unusual feeling. I can only say that as I take a look back and analyze, I realize that nothing happens by chance. Everything happens for a reason.

Hayern Aysor: The symbol of the Last Bell is…

A. S.: This day is truly very symbolic. I don’t want to repeat what others have said, but I must say that each stage of a person’s life is special and important. The Last Bell is like the crossroads where we try to hold ourselves accountable. We’re smoothly going from being children and teens to become young people, and everything changes after the Last Bell.

Hayern Aysor: The school years…

A. S.: Every year was unique. In the beginning, we were carefree and felt the love, warmth and saw smiles. Later, we became aware of the love and connection. That period was the period in which everything was more impressive.

Hayern Aysor: Memorable episodes from the days in school…

A. S.: There are a lot of memories. Among them I would set aside the days when all the students and I would go to a camp and spend our summer vacation in the heart of nature. I have more memories of the games that we used to play with our beloved superintendent of the Eurnekian School of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Director of the Christian Education Center, Bishop Vardan Navasardyan and the teachers.

Hayern Aysor: How did the years in school go by?

A. S.: As I look back, I realize that the years passed in an instant…

Hayern Aysor: Memories of teachers, the headmaster and classmates…

A. S.: I have a unique spiritual connection and am in harmony with my headmaster, teachers and classmates. It’s obvious because each of them have left a trace in a certain stage of my life. I’ll always remember them when I look back at the past.

Hayern Aysor My headmaster is…

A. S.: I have many wishes for my headmaster, but I would like to wish her great health to educate the future generations. I also wish her vigor and patience to stand and love the new generations of mischievous children.

Gaiane Akhoyan: “If only the end of everything in life was nice and promising like this!”

Hayern Aysor: How do you feel before graduation?

Gaiane Akhoyan: If feeling ordinary can be considered a feeling, then I must say that I feel a little ordinary and emptiness inside.

Hayern Aysor: The symbol of the Last Bell is…

G. A.: It’s as if the past and future have mixed. It’s that moment when the past, present and future mix. If only the end of everything in life was nice and promising like this!

Hayern Aysor: The school years…

G. A.: I can’t set aside the school years and mention the most memorable event. All the years of successes and difficulties will be kept in a big corner of my heart…

Hayern Aysor: Memorable episodes from the days in school…

G. A.: What I remember the most is one of the birthdays of my exceptional headmaster. My classmates and I prepared for the day for a week.

At the end, it turned out like it was supposed to, contrary to what we had planned. Of course, everything was beautiful, and our beloved headmaster organized everything without knowing. To this day, she hasn’t guessed how she helped us with everything.

Hayern Aysor: How did the school years go by?

G. A.: While you count from 1 to 12 in your mind, I’ll show you how the brilliant days in school drew to an end.

Hayern Aysor: Memories of teachers, the headmaster and classmates…

G. A.: I love the talks that I used to have with my teachers, my headmaster and classmates at the camp (those hours were the hours of sincere talks).

I discovered myself during those talks. I fondly remember everyone’s comments, even the topics that the headmaster would choose carefully…

Hayern Aysor: My headmaster is…

G. A.: I’ll say the following: “I’m thankful to this great smithy called a school for meeting my headmaster, Gyulnara Sargsyan.”

By Gevorg Chichyan

P.S.: Hayern Aysor is dedicating the music video for singer Tata Simonyan’s song “The Last Bell” (Verjin Zang) to all graduates, wishing them success and victories as they enter a new stage in their lives.