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Teen Serena Hajjar Impresses With Heart And Grace

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  • Teen Serena Hajjar Impresses With Heart And Grace

    TEEN SERENA HAJJAR IMPRESSES WITH HEART AND GRACE

    COMMUNITY | AUGUST 1, 2013 1:33 PM
    ________________________________

    By Tom Vartabedian

    LEXINGTON, Mass. - Serena Hajjar is not your typical teenager.

    While other girls her age are busy working on their tans or shopping
    at the mall, she is out winning gymnastics championships, writing
    articles for publication, maintaining stellar grades and volunteering
    her spare time at one Armenian organization after another.

    On her immediate agenda is not a state title for which she is capable
    of earning, but an Armenian Bone Marrow Drive in September. As of
    March, she has been on a committee that is planning a walk September
    28, starting at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC)
    at 10 a.m. and ending in Watertown Square.

    "Fortunately, none of my friends or family needs the services provided
    by this group," she said in a recent interview. "I enjoy making a
    difference for the people whose life may depend upon finding a bone
    marrow match. I did the Walk for Life last year and I got involved."

    Closer to home was the money she raised for "MySchoolPulse," a
    charity based in Lebanon that aims to provide gravely ill children
    with tutoring and other resources to continue their studies while
    being hospitalized.

    This past year, Hajjar turned 16 and asked that instead of presents,
    guests of her Sweet Sixteen donate to this cause.

    The charity was founded by a family friend, Mireille Nassif, who lost
    her son, Paul, to osteosarcoma, a bone cancer common in teenagers,
    in August 2009. The $5,000 Hajjar raised was quickly matched by her
    parents, making the total of $10,000 far in excess of her $2,000 goal.

    "Although we were toddlers when we met, I'll never forget his battle
    against cancer," Hajjar pointed out. "I was shocked that someone
    battling cancer would have the energy to continue their studies with
    such enthusiasm. He continued to study with an oxygen mask on his
    face until his last moments."

    The Armenian lineage in this girl runs deep. Both parents were born and
    raised in Lebanon. Her paternal grandfather was Dr. Joseph Hajjar,
    a distinguished neurologist, while her maternal grandfather was
    Khatchig Babikian, a well-known public figure, lawyer, politician,
    parliament member and cabinet minister.

    At the age of 4, she was introduced to the Boston Ballet. Two years
    later, she discovered gymnastics and took the sport to unparalleled
    heights. The medals she won were nothing compared to the rush of
    flying through the air or completing a new routine on the high beam.

    Over the past 10 years, Hajjar has built quite a resume for herself,
    winning state championships in her age class. A year ago, she took
    a gold medal on the vault at the Massachusetts' Judges Cup.

    "It's given me a great work ethic," she admitted. "Gymnastics has
    taught me the value of hard work and perseverance in achieving goals
    that far exceed any awards I may have received."

    In addition, she has been taking piano lessons for 10 years. Her
    teacher is Shoushig Parseghian of Belmont. She has performed in
    three concerts by Amaras as well as the April 24th commemoration
    in Watertown.

    The Lexington High junior holds a 4.08 unweighted GPA while enrolled
    in honors and AP classes. She hopes to major in history and/or
    international relations in college.

    She has written several articles for her school paper but none were
    finer than the three she published in the Armenian Mirror-Spectator
    this year during a volunteer internship at that newspaper.

    "My editor and mentor [Alin Gregorian] created a very friendly
    environment," she said. "Getting my work published was such an
    exciting feeling."

    She decided to help out at Project SAVE last summer after learning
    about its unique mission, under the tutelage of executive director
    Ruth Thomasian and office manager John Kebadjian.

    "I have always loved history and enjoyed looking at old photographs,"
    she said. "I was taught so much about Armenian history during my
    days at St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School. This is such a
    valuable resource."

    Through gymnastics, Hajjar became a perfect candidate for the Abaka
    School of Armenain Dance and will join its adult counterpart, Sayat
    Nova Dance Company next year.

    She is an avid reader, cooks, bakes and yes, she's out with friends
    who shop, depicting the typical side of this teen.

    What may surprise others are her eating habits. She happens to be
    a vegetarian. Another interesting fact about her is that her first
    language was not Armenian, English or Arabic, but French.

    "Both my parents spoke French since they grew up in Lebanon and carried
    it to America," she noted. "They thought it would be a useful addition
    to the Armenian I would be learning at St. Stephen's."

    Being a fifth-grader at that school entitled her to a special school
    trip to Armenia and Artsakh. The memories left an indelible impression.

    "The people there [in Artsakh] were so generous and kind, despite
    their dire situation," she recalled. "They were content with the
    simplest things in life, reminding me that many of the things we
    enjoy in America are superfluous."

    She went back to Armenia last summer with a group of family friends,
    getting a more mature perspective on the country. She is eager for
    her third visit.

    As to the centennial in 2015, Hajjar has her own thoughts about the
    commemoration and the main focus is to educate others.

    "It breaks my heart to hear some deny the death of 1.5 million
    Armenians," she said. "It's time for a new approach. The best way
    to get Turkey to recognize the Genocide is through education. Once
    we spread awareness and knowledge of historical facts, Turkey will
    lose ground and its credibility. Only when Turkey is isolated in its
    denial of the Genocide will it finally admit to its crime."

    A Genocide exhibit at the Smithsonian, protests, vigils, aggressive
    lobbying, petitioning and greater awareness are some of the tasks
    that should be employed, she agrees.

    "Unfortunately, the fight for recognition is one of the few things
    that truly unit all Armenians across the board," Serena resumed. "I
    just wish Armenians could find unity in other areas as well because
    that solidarity will ultimately be the strongest force in keeping
    the Armenian nation alive."

    - See more at:
    http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/08/01/teen-serena-hajjar-impresses-with-heart-and-grace/#sthash.khZCisEj.dpuf

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