At Glendale High School, one remarkable teacher stands out among the corridors of the 2000 building, in Room 2231. Armenian language teacher, Ms. Lucin Hayrikyan, brings not just lessons, but a rich fullness of culture and passion to her students.
Ms. Hayrikyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and she has been teaching for over 50 years. In her free time, she enjoys knitting items for her grandchildren, playing tennis, and reading novels, and she has a true passion for cooking and baking.
With her kind personality and dedication, Ms. Hayrikyan has been passionate about her job at GHS for over two decades, and that passion continues to this day. From her childhood dreams of becoming a teacher, she has achieved her goals and has become a beloved teacher on our campus.
Has teaching always been your first goal, or did you have any other plans?
I was dreaming of becoming a teacher since my childhood. I played school with my dolls. I was teaching them, and after that, my French teacher became my role model. She was very enthusiastic, and I wanted to be a good teacher like her, so I decided to become a teacher.
Did you teach anywhere else besides Glendale High School?
Yes, after graduating from the Yerevan State Pedagogical University of Foreign Languages, I became a teacher in 1972. I started working as a teacher in School Number 6 in the city of Hrazdan. I worked there for three years. There, I felt that I made the right choice.
Then I moved back to my home school, School Number 95, named after Ghevont Alishan. I continued working as a French teacher there for ten years.
After I moved to Moscow, Russia, because of my marriage, I continued again working as a French teacher, but this time I worked in a French magnet school. I worked there for twelve years.
Then I moved to the United States of America, and I wanted to continue my teaching career. I took my teaching California teaching credentials at Cal State LA. I started teaching French at Glendale High School. That year they opened the Armenian program, [and] I started teaching…Armenian along with French. But [over] the years… Armenian classes became bigger and bigger, [so] now I teach Armenian only.
Alongside teaching, I have served as the the advisor of the Armenian Club for twenty-two years, fostering a sense of community and pride in Armenian heritage among the students.
Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself that you find important to share?
I am very enthusiastic about my teaching. I enjoy it. I enjoy working with my students and teaching them languages and culture. My students bring a lot of positive energy into my classroom, which creates an interactive environment in my classes. I have fulfilled my dream of teaching Armenian literature at GHS, along with language and culture courses.
Additionally, I have dedicated summers to teaching ELD classes, finding fulfillment in guiding newco,ings through language and cultural immersion. Although I have received my Master’s degree in school administration, I continue pursuing my passion of teaching in my classroom.
At Glendale High School, Ms. Hayrikyan’s path as an educator shines brightly, and she hopes to continue supporting her Armenian heritage for many years to come. Through her commitment to teaching and her enthusiasm for sharing the richness of Armenian culture, she has left a positive influence on many generations of students.
Ms. Hayrikyan still continues to inspire others, through her passion for education, and love for language. We are all very fortunate to have her on our campus.
