Good day everyone. Thank you all for being here.I really appreciate it. I am Avetis Palyan, and today I will share the good and bad stories of my life through this speech.
I was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. My life changed in 2011 because of the war. 12-year-old Avetis was living without electricity, water, internet, and what is the most important, without peace. Attending school was a problem. Visiting friends was a problem. Living peacefully was a problem. Waking up the next day was already an accomplishment.
When I was 13-years-old, I carried buckets of water to our house for our use. Imagine how rough my childhood was.
My life changed by 180 degrees when my family moved to Yerevan, Armenia. I became inspired and motivated to reach good things in my life. I had a goal to study at the American University of Armenia, which I just graduated from, acquiring bachelor’s degree in computer science.
I have also volunteered a lot in Armenia, and the most captivating volunteering program was the “Friend of a Family” project organized by KASA. In this project, I assisted families from Syria with children’s registration at school and with finding homes.
Currently, I am shaping three startup ideas, and I am diligently working to transform those ideas into reality.
My story is continuing, showcasing that, regardless how challenging life may be, eventually happiness will always be. I am very motivated to achieve much more in my life, and I wish that others are also motivated to reach great heights for our country, Armenia.
Never give up, and always try to reach for more.
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