By Ani Saryan
How do you say goodbye to something that’s been a part of you for 17 years? Something that’s taken me all over the country, even back to my homeland? How do you accurately reflect on hundreds of hours of meetings and activities, thousands of emails, weeks at camp? Joining the AYF was a decision that I’ve never regretted, although I probably had no idea what I was in for when I was 12. Since then, I’ve lived in three different countries and six states…and the AYF has been the only constant thing.
It’s amazing to be able to go “out in the real world” (eventually you have to) and have AYF friends that you can call upon in each city—to help me move, to show me around the city, or to lend me a bed for the night. Luckily I don’t have to say goodbye to those connections. This “farewell article” is still one of the hardest things I’ve had to write, though. I’ve been expecting how hard this would be, so I tried to start in February (of last year), when I was in Granite City for one of their meetings as their Central Executive (CE) fieldworker. I found myself trying to fall asleep, at the house of one of my first AYF friends, and running through my mind was a collage of AYF moments from the past.
I suppose the longer I put off finishing this article, it still doesn’t change the truth: I am now part of the AYF alumni.
Even before I joined, I remember older AYF members (Serge Kechichian) coming back from Junior Seminar talking on and on, not about the lectures, but how the only thing there was to drink for four days was pink lemonade. I also remember taking my oath, holding a church candle outside in the breeze. Later that year I was elected as our general meeting’s secretary, and inevitably became chapter secretary right after. I’ve worked my way up in the ranks, to chapter president, secretary at AYF Convention, then Divan and on the Resolutions Committee, and finally two years on the AYF CE. But, everything comes full circle. I was again secretary at Racine’s year-end general meeting in November, which also happened to be my final meeting. It’s also appropriate because my Grandpa Sarkis was one of the secretaries at the first AYF Convention in 1933. I’ve been told that he stayed up all night with Jimmy Tashjian writing and constructing the by-laws of the organization.
Lots of things have come full circle in the AYF. I remember as a camper, running between cabins 6-7 and 8-9 with my camera to get a picture of the older group boys, who had used “sun-in” to bleach their hair blonde. At that time, there were only rocks and gravel between the cabins, and I fell and scraped my leg as I was running. This is why you should never run at camp! Then last year at Seminar, while working as the camp doctor, I would yell at all the kids to stop running through the camp (and inevitably bandage up their scrapes later on).
Being on CE for the past two years has given me a deeper respect and understanding of the AYF. It’s easy to take for granted all the organizing, planning, and commitment it takes to put on so many events year after year, until you’re immersed in email threads that go on for pages or in three-hour-long conference calls. I really appreciate all the effort my fellow CE members put into running the organization. Being around six other dedicated and like-minded AYFers only makes you want to do more for the group. Without them, I wouldn’t have known the meaning of “working hard and playing hard.” I wouldn’t have traded it for the world (except, perhaps, the chicken+rice).
Everyone will have their favorite moments that they remember. For me, some of those were at camp, like having Chicken Patty Wednesday and snowballs at the dances. Or on the AYF internship in Armenia when we were hiking through Amberd fortress and had snowball fights on the mountaintop in July. Some of those AYF memories started early on, when the Racine Chapter would have its annual Good Friday Fish Fry, and we would hand-scrub potatoes for hours to get cut into french-fries. (As we got older, we got smarter and bought pre-cut fries.) I’ll always remember the car washes and bonfires we had, to raise money to sit in a van for 10 hours on the way to Junior Seminar. And that one year (1997?), when our chapter finally won third place in the article contest and came home with a huge trophy. Racine isn’t that much of a sports powerhouse, but when it comes to education, we put out a good effort.
The AYF has taught me so many things: organization, leadership, respect (for those younger and older than me). It has taught me how to communicate better and how to speak in front of groups. I’ve learned that if you’re not a great athlete, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a fun time running at the Olympics track. I’ve learned that friendships can extend past state boundaries and over oceans. I am still trying to learn how to sneak out of a cabin without getting caught. And although everyone believes the opposite, I still have never gone cow tipping. I’ve learned Armenian culture and history, patience, and how to stand up for what I believe in.
So now I’m an alumnus. I’ve tried to set a good example, and pass on what I know to those behind me. If I could leave any lasting thoughts, here they are: The AYF is the best organization you could ever be in. Be optimistic. Never Stop Fighting. And it’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.
Ani Saryan was a member of the Racine “Armen Garo” AYF Chapter from 1994-2010; the AYF Central Executive from 2009-10; and AYF alumni from 2011-forever.
Guest Contributor
The AYF chapters are responsible for teaching us many things, I am so delighted when I hear stories like Ani’s. In Fresno our chapter continues to carry the torch and is active in many civic duties, for Armenia and in our community of Fresno.