Every year, two sisters visit the graveyard of an old man. They stand next to a gravestone and look into the eyes of an old man. Their eyes are full of happiness and sadness. They are missing him. He is not the sisters’ grandfather, but how the old man treated the girls made it seem like they were his grandchildren.
The old man was a professor and loved to spend time with his students. His youngest student was a 17-year-old girl. Although she was not a university student, he thought that the girl had the potential to become an archaeologist. He helped her just as he did hundreds of students.
This old man was Professor Gregory Areshian. And the two sisters were my sister and I.
Students do not know a lot about Professor Areshian’s political career. Ashot Voskanyan, an Armenian philosopher, former diplomat, and member of parliament, worked with Professor Areshian in the 1990s and later at the AUA. “Areshian wanted to create a research center to teach and study Armenian history. He needed help from professional historians, one of whom was me,” said Dr. Voskanyan.
According to Dr. Voskanyan, they first met when the Third Republic of Armenia was established. Areshian was one of the state ministers of the Republic, who were in a higher position than ordinary ministers. Dr. Voskanyan says, “He had to coordinate and oversee several ministers’ work.”
Since 2015, Professor Areshian has become an important part of the AUA students’ lives. He helped students thrive as life-long learners and citizens. One such student was Sevak Karapetyan, an EC alumnus, whom the professor called Michelangelo. Professor Areshian always advised Sevak to “carefully observe” people, things, and events around him. Sevak said the professor constantly repeated that there are three most important abilities one needs to have to succeed in science: to observe, to observe, and finally, to observe. Also, Sevak remembered that the professor gave some personal advice to students.
Sevak’s favorite memory about the professor is when one of the students asked him if he believed in the existence of God. He answered, “Why does nobody ask, ‘What is your relationship with God?’”At that time, one of the students, Margarita Dadyan, an EC alumna, said, “Professor, to have any relationship with God, you need to believe that he exists.” The professor laughed and answered, “You are right.”
Margarita was another student close to Professor Areshian. They loved to spend time discussing different political and philosophical topics. Margarita says that Areshian shared how he imagined the future of Armenia. He believed that there should be a meritocracy. People should elect candidates not because they say what people want to hear based on the candidates’ backgrounds and successes. When Margarita started volunteering as a non-partisan assistant for Lilit Makunts, ex-leader of the ruling My Step Alliance faction in the National Assembly of Armenia, Areshian was excited. He told her, “One day, when you will be a member of the government, please find my old cabinet and make it yours. ”
Margarita vividly remembers one of her discussions with Professor Areshian about Artsakh. In the summer of 2018, they discussed whether the Velvet Revolution was equally important as the Karabakh movement. Professor Areshian said that the Velvet Revolution must not be compared to the Karabakh movement, emphasizing that Pashinyan overthrew the regime established due to the Karabakh movement.
Nazig Apelian, EC alumna, another student of Professor Areshian, shares her memories of him. She said that among all the classes he taught, her favorite was History of the Modern World. “He was a brilliant history teacher and passionately taught the subject, as I was interested in politics, and the knowledge he gave greatly complemented what I was simultaneously learning in political science courses,” Nazig said. “In fact, he was a master of passing down interdisciplinary knowledge.”
The professor was an exceptional educator for Nazig because he always responded positively and genuinely valued every input from students. Students loved his teaching style as it motivated them to participate. Nazig said there was never a dull moment during his classes, and she never wanted to miss them.
Professor Areshian played a crucial role in fostering a sense of belonging within AUA and the broader academic community. Nazig’s favorite advice from Professor Areshian is, “Always carry the torch of learning with you as a guiding light in your lives.” “As the instructor, his mere presence was inspiring to me, both during his classes and in the university in general,” she continued. “He was a role model as a professor; I always aspire to be like him.”
Professor Areshian remains an inspiration to many students, and memories of him still live on with his extensive work and wise advice. His classes will always be cherished by his former students.
Rest in eternal peace, Professor Areshian.
