This recognition is not simply a reward for outstanding academic performance. Rather, it honors years of dedication, responsibility, initiative, leadership, and exemplary character. It is presented to members of the Student Council who, through their example, help shape the culture of the school and enrich the everyday life of the student community.
This year, the "The Honorable USUM Student" title was awarded to two Student Council leaders: Student Council President Sarah Martirosyan and Vice President Anna Galstyan. Now, a month and a half after receiving this prestigious recognition, their conversation with usumschool.am once again confirms a simple truth: success is never accidental. It is built over the years through small but consistent steps.
Interestingly, both students speak of the award not as the end of a journey, but as the beginning of a new chapter. Anna recalls that she had dreamed of receiving this title ever since the seventh grade, when she watched then–Student Council Vice President Shushan Aleksanyan walk onto the stage to receive the same honor. After three years of determined effort, that dream became reality. Yet, as Anna explains, the journey does not end here. On the contrary, she now feels an even greater responsibility to continue growing and living up to the values the title represents.
Sarah, known throughout the school for her dedication and wholehearted commitment to every responsibility she undertakes, views the recognition as a symbol of responsibility rather than personal achievement. According to the Student Council President, true success is not measured solely by excellent grades. A 21st-century school is no longer defined simply by academic excellence or report cards. What matters most is the person one becomes throughout that journey. Sara believes that her achievement is the result not of talent, but of character.
Throughout both interviews, several words appear again and again: hard work, discipline, patience, and commitment. At a time when success is often attributed exclusively to talent, Anna and Sarah offer a different perspective. For them, success begins the moment a person learns to work on themselves, refuses to give up after the first setback, and remains consistent even when the results are not yet visible. Both are convinced that if one had to choose between talent and perseverance, long-term success would always belong to perseverance.
Speaking about leadership, both Student Council leaders emphasize that it should never be understood merely as a position or title, but as an act of service. It is no coincidence that this year's two distinguished students not only led the Student Council but also devoted themselves to serving the entire student body. Notably, Sarah Martirosyan is the first Student Council President in five years to receive the "The Honorable USUM Student" title, following Vahagn Margaryan.
For Anna, leadership has meant learning to understand people, collaborate effectively, take responsibility, make thoughtful decisions in challenging situations, and continue proposing new ideas even when the timing seems far from ideal.
Sarah admits that, at first, she questioned whether she could live up to the expectations placed upon her as Student Council President. Yet that very responsibility became her greatest classroom, teaching her to trust herself and to lead not through words, but through personal example. Among the many reflections shared during the interview, usumschool.am particularly highlights Sara's belief that leadership begins not when others choose you, but when you choose to take responsibility for others.
Every success story includes its own challenges. Anna recalls how difficult it was to balance academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. Yet it was precisely those time constraints that taught her to value every hour and organize her days more effectively. Sarah's greatest challenge, on the other hand, was overcoming her own limitations. Fear of speaking in front of a camera, addressing large audiences, and the doubts she experienced while leading the Student Council gradually transformed into confidence and resilience.
Both interviewees speak with deep gratitude about the role of their teachers. Anna emphasizes that her teachers did far more than impart knowledge—they inspired her to move forward, persevere, and never give up. Sara likewise highlights those teachers who gradually became mentors and trusted advisors, supporting her not only in the classroom but also during important moments in her personal development.
Perhaps the strongest common thread in both conversations is their description of the environment at USUM School itself. Anna captures it in a single word: "family." Sarah reflects that the school shaped her as a person, helped her overcome fears and stereotypes, and, most importantly, gave her lifelong relationships that she will always cherish.
Looking back, the stories of Anna Galstyan and Sarah Martirosyan reveal two different journeys that ultimately arrive at the same destination—the world of values. Their achievements are not defined by a single victory or by the memorable ceremony held on May 29. The "The Honorable USUM Student" title is public recognition of years of consistent effort and personal growth.
Above all, it reminds us that education is about far more than the transmission of knowledge. It is the lifelong process of shaping character—a process in which responsibility, integrity, respect, leadership, and dedication are every bit as important as academic excellence. And when all of these qualities come together in one person, that student becomes far more than an outstanding learner; they become the kind of role model upon whom the future of the school is built.
To not think freely is to not think at all!
