Tigran Sarkissian is the current boys JV soccer coach at Glendale High School. He is twenty-one years old, he was born in Glendale and he still lives here. He was a member of the GHS Class of 2021, and he played soccer all four years that he was a student here. 

There are more fun facts about Tigran. He played piano growing up, and he attended an Armenian music school. He was also the president of the Music Appreciation Club at GHS, which sadly ended after he graduated, and his favorite soccer team is Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

When he was a student at GHS, Tigran was deeply involved in our school, not only academically but also athletically. He was the captain of the boys varsity soccer team, and he took on leadership roles in several clubs on campus. 

Tigran took eleven different AP classes at our school, but he didn’t only take these courses to improve his college applications. He also just loved engaging with his fellow classmates and learning from interesting teachers. 

Tigran was known for always participating in class discussions, and that led his classmates to vote for him as a finalist for the 2021 Pat Navolanic Memorial Award, which he eventually won. He also volunteered at the Keck Medicine of USC’s sleep studies department. 

Tigran’s perspective on education is that he values engagement over having perfect grades, and he believes that the more you participate in class discussions, the more fun and enjoyable school will become. He feels that students don’t need to be perfect to be successful, but they should be active learners. 

Tigran supports the idea of going to a community college and not jumping into a UC right after high school. Overall, Tigran was a strong learner and he strived to reach his goals in high school.

Tigran has always had a passion for soccer. Ever since middle school, he’d always play soccer during recess, and he loved it. When he came to GHS, he immediately joined the team and eventually became the captain. 

A few years after he graduated from high school, Tigran’s  younger brother came to GHS and wanted to join the soccer team. One day when Tigran brought his brother to tryouts during the summertime, he asked his coaches, who were the same ones he had when he was in high school, if there was anything he could do to help the program. They at first said yes, and after a while they asked if he’d like to be the coach of the freshman team. He accepted and soon became the JV coach instead.

Tigran believes that being on a team teaches kids about themselves. They learn how to better handle things in life, and they learn their status on the team, the value of competition and their own self-worth. He noted how quickly emotions in sports can change and how that can affect a teenager’s life. As a coach, Tigran aims to create a team environment that helps his players to navigate their lives more positively. 

Tigran’s advice for our students is to engage in class, even if you don’t have straight A’s. Everyone should take at least one AP class, especially history or English, because GHS has such strong programs. Students shouldn’t feel pressured into going straight to a four-year university, and community college is a great option. Lastly, he hopes to remind everyone that high school is temporary, but the lessons students learn about themselves will last forever.

If you’re interested in joining our soccer team next year, please contact Tigran at [email protected]. Keep your eye on the goal, Nitros!