News - 'All students at UWC Dilijan become Armenian by choice.' Paula Leguisamo

"All students at the Dilijan International School become Armenian by choice. After spending two years here — four, in my case — it is impossible not to become immersed in Armenian culture, not to be moved by the history of the Armenians and the hospitality of the Armenian people. I think we perhaps embody a different type of Armenianness, and ‘Armenian by choice’ is an accurate term for this kind of experience, because although we are not Armenians by blood or by birth, we harbor great feelings of love and deep respect for this country.” These are the words of Uruguayan Paula Leguisamo, a former student of the United World College (UWC) Dilijan International School, with whom NEWS.am spoke on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the School. Paula returned to Dilijan after completing her university education and currently teaches philosophy at UWC Dilijan. Paula's story is not only about the experience of studying at UWC Dilijan, but also about friendly Armenian-Uruguayan ties. She recounts the time when, at the age of 17, she was admitted to UWC Dilijan and was preparing to come to Armenia. One of the Uruguayan Armenians, hearing about her news by chance, began to speak about his historical homeland with great affection. "I was amazed and thought, ‘What kind of place am I going to? A place where someone who was born and raised in a totally different part of the world can talk about his country with such enthusiasm and dedicates two hours of his life speaking to a girl he has never met before about that country.’ It was really a very special moment, and I realized that I would be coming to a completely different kind of country," said Paula. Reflecting on her time studying in Dilijan, she noted that being a student at UWC Dilijan means learning about Armenian culture through personal experience, such as understanding what Armenians feel when they visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial. "There is a certain type of behavior and conduct that is expected when entering a monastery and when on the grounds of a monastery. What is extremely impressive for me is the kind of relationship Armenians have with their country. I don't think I have ever seen this phenomenon before: the love for one's own culture, the importance of preserving national traditions and protecting the right to be Armenian — all of this is wonderful." In addition to teaching, she shares her own experience with students and encourages community connection. "I am pointing out how important it is to understand the culture in which we live now and to show respect for that culture. One of my students is leading a project about sustainable development for the youth of Dilijan. Children come to the campus and use our facilities. I think this is also a form of support for Dilijan, because the new generation learns more about sustainability." Speaking about the significance of UWC Dilijan for Armenia, Paula noted that the co-founders of the School, Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, connected the School with the world in a completely unique way. She believes that she might not have enjoyed such opportunities if she had attended another college of the UWC network. "The role of Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend in the non-profit sector is to make the School not just an educational institution, but one that fosters connections with the world. When I was a student, we hosted the Aurora Dialogues discussion series on campus. It was a tremendous opportunity to learn from people who were doing such wonderful things around the world. Therefore, you not only gain educational experience for grades 11-12, but also enter into communication with the whole world at a young age, before you have even entered university."