I was that odd immigrant kid in a sea of native white Angelenos (when ethnic diversity was not as celebrated as it is now). I rarely spoke about being Armenian, but spoke my language at home. I was keenly aware of the challenges laid before me, both academically, as well as in the social graces. Later, as I started to learn more about our history and our diaspora, I began to gain a deeper appreciation of the specialness of our ancient roots. Mrs Hermine Maserejian’s “Armenian Culture” Class at CSUN was an elective I took by chance during my bachelor program. I felt something when I noticed that non-Armenian students were also enrolled. This impressed me. I felt quite proud to be there. To date, hers were the first and most memorable lectures which helped me gain a broader understanding of my own history. Having Armenian roots has also taught me about the importance of storytelling. Armenians are great storytellers, and we need to do more of it. Stories not passed down are stories lost forever.