The Highlander

25/04/2024

Find out all about the 1st intercollegiate debate competition between the students of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and the French University in Armenia (UFAR) that centered around a very familiar topic 🇺🇸🇫🇷🇦🇲

➡️Uniting State Universities in Armenia Under a Single Institution and its Outcomes. 🎓🏫

“This was a battle, but the only weapon was speech. For the first time competing in an intercollegiate debate, the event served as an opportunity for AUA students to showcase their skills.” 🎤💬🎖️

The hall was crowded, yet the audience was dead silent. Their eyes were on the two teams. Sitting in front of each other and trying to catch every word of the

22/04/2024

“In Japan, Sakura brings new beginnings, but what does it bring to Yerevan?” 🇯🇵🌸

Gaya Balian and Nairy Bzdigian cover the recent controversy that took Yerevan by storm; cutting down the green trees to replace with Sakura ones for beautification and environmental health. But is it all as it seems? 🤔❓

“The desire to “beautify” is understandable, but it should not come at the expense of our environment’s sustainability and suitability for the city.” 🌳💚🌇

https://rb.gy/0xizya

30/03/2024

“Young scouts acquire vital knowledge and skills that every person needs, especially in a conflict zone like Armenia.”🇦🇲⚠️‼️

“YMCA Spitak is a platform where children and teenagers can enhance their awareness and learn two main skills: first aid and civil defense.”⛑️💪

Find out more about the rigorous preparation of Armenian scouts at YMCA Spitak from this article by Maria Tumanyan. 🏔️🏕️

https://bitly.ws/3h2NT

25/03/2024

“We do not always encounter news content that is reliable, truthful, and credible, especially in times of uncertainty where our emotions can alter our perspective.” 📰 📺

Check out Araz Madadi’s article on how we should navigate through the news handed to us on a daily basis and how much its accuracy can impact thousands of audiences in a mere second. 🛜📱🗣️

https://bitly.ws/3gIQL

23/03/2024

The AUA Newsroom presents our wonderful founders, Anna Andreasyan and Sona Gevorgyan, in a new light with a recent article. Go check it out on the AUA Newsroom website! 📲📰

Anna Andreasyan (BAEC ’23) and Sona Gevorgyan (BAEC ’23): Founders of The Highlander Student Magazine

👉 https://bitly.ws/3gEbK

Here’s a snippet of the article (and how our magazine got its name!): ✨🏔️

“Why The Highlander? Because we are people who live in the Armenian Highlands. Though a modern university with international educational values, AUA is nevertheless rooted in its local culture, history, and community. The name The Highlander reflects the intersection of the global and the local.” 🇦🇲📜💡

22/03/2024

“On March 8th, International Women’s Day is celebrated across Armenia with great enthusiasm.”🌷

“Yet this raises a critical question: Is this annual show of appreciation enough?” 🤔

Read to see Nairy Bzdigian and Gaya Balian hit the mark on March 8 being a mask to cover dark truths rather than an honest and pure day to celebrate women in their glory.

https://bitly.ws/3gAn7

07/03/2024

“Sevan is on the verge of destruction due to several anthropogenic and natural causes,” Romela Harutyunyan ponders, but with a determined hope she adds, “There is still time to take a step back from an irreversible situation."

Lake Sevan, a beloved Pearl of Armenia, is not what it used to be, and is withering slowly day by day. With excellent research and information of expertise, Romela presents not only the problem crystal clear, but also discusses solutions to keep the Pearl as precious as possible.

https://bitly.ws/3f7BB

07/03/2024

"Spanish or vanish," the message says. It cannot be crueler. This is an average day for a Duolingo user 🦉💚

One of, if not the most popular, mobile app for language learning is brought to you in a more humorous yet insightful lens, as Maria Tumanyan digs deep to understand why the famous green owl is so effective 🤔

Spoiler: its teaching ability is not the reason; there is something far more sinister 😈🤫

https://bitly.ws/3f3E9

29/02/2024

“I can still hear the woman dragging her shopping trolly on the concrete and the deafening sound it made… I remember my aunt teaching me a trick to know if a melon would be sweet or not by simply smelling it. She would say, “Araz, if the melon has a pungent smell and you can smell it with one whiff, then it’s sweet… Then, the tall palm trees on wide roads with look-like houses and polished grass were all I saw when I drove.” 🌴🍉🛒

“These are all memories tied to places I once felt at home.” 🏡💟

Here are some beautifully nostalgic snippets of Araz Madadi’s creative poem, “A Home I Once Knew” that is just as memory ridden, so don’t leave it hanging 💌🕊️



https://bitly.ws/3eA3o

28/02/2024

“Women do not always feel safe when using the transportation services in Armenia,” says Meghrie Yacoubian, as she explores uncomfortable experiences and stressful incidents that took place with women in transportation, specifically, taxi rides. 🚕❌

She presents examples such as intrusively personal questions, the responsibility of drivers, and even harassment. With this, she hopes more women everyday would share their experiences and inspire reforms for safe and comfortable taxi rides.❣️

Armenian Women Speak Out: Safety Concerns Rise in Taxi Rides

https://bitly.ws/3etn3

27/02/2024

👉To apply for The Highlander Magazine's Arshile Gorky Competition:

Step 1: Log in to your Intranet account by clicking “Single Sign On.”
Step 2: Read the instructions carefully and click on “Submit” in the top right-hand corner.
Step 3: Make sure you click on the correct category (Best Writer, Best Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Best Photographer).
Step 4: Upload your work in the correct format (following the guidelines for the file names and formats) and click “Submit.”

❗️The deadline for submissions is March 9, 2024

Visit the link for more details or message us if you have any questions 📩

https://thehighlander.aua.am/agc-24-25/

27/02/2024

Among the familiar stress of exam season, “Study methods should become a norm among students who are used to cramming their brains in the most exhausting ways.” - Miray Nalbandian 💤🥱📖

Here we have for you 5 Study Methods to make any study session as quick, worry-free, and smooth as possible to make sure you get the best grades.

Check them out to find the best one that will save you from the sleepless nights! 😴➡️😃

Five Study Methods to Ease The Exam Season

https://bitly.ws/3ebW4

26/02/2024

“The misconception of s*x education remained a wrapped-up thread-ball that was thrown from one generation to another.”📚👫

S*x education has a long way to go in Armenia, its misconceptions are negatively impacting both the psychological, health, and awareness aspects of teenagers and adults everywhere.🧠🙁

As Anna Afyan strongly insists, “The long-term change is still not implemented in our country and the approach to s*x education remains at a superficial level.”💡🇦🇲

The Misconception of S*x Education in Armenia

https://thehighlander.aua.am/2024/02/22/the-misconception-of-s*x-education-in-armenia/

22/02/2024

“The real challenge was integrating our skills and going forward as a team. There were many ups and downs until we got the hang of it.” - Meghedi Baghoomian. 🏁✅

Get to know the great works and behind the scenes of our very own Student Council, as Hrach Arzumanyan gets a closer look with its beloved members, and learns all about their trials and triumphs. 👨‍💻🎓👩‍💻

Every year, the elected members of the Student Council (SC) leave a distinctive impact on student life at AUA as they aim to amplify the voices of students,

22/02/2024

“The more diverse Armenia becomes, the more we see racial discrimination, especially against Indians.”🇮🇳🇦🇲

Read our latest editorial by Gaya Balian and Nairy Bzdigian as they delve deep into the discrimination of Indians in Armenia, bringing examples and perspectives that have been around for some time.



https://bitly.ws/3dAnJ

09/02/2024

With the theme of "Memory, Identity, and Home," The Highlander Magazine is honored to announce the Arshile Gorky Competition.

1️⃣Best Writer
2️⃣Best Graphic Designer/Illustrator
3️⃣Best Photographer

Eligible participants must be full-time students with specific GPA requirements, and winners are expected to contribute to The Highlander student magazine in the following academic year, with scholarship awards of $2,500 each directed towards tuition.

❗️The deadline for submissions is March 9, 2024

Visit the link for more details or message us if you have any questions 📩
https://thehighlander.aua.am/agc-24-25/

28/01/2024

Today The Highlander turns 2 🎉😍 Looking back to the past 2 years, the of AUA has become a platform where students raise important topics about various aspects of student life.

Let's take a moment to celebrate the achievements and stay tuned for more exciting things to come✨

17/01/2024

💼Professional Communication is not just a course; it's a practical journey where students learn about authentic professionalism through various projects such as resume editing, teamwork, and AI integration, making the course a valuable experience.

Mirey Nalbandian advises all majors to take this course. Find the article through the link!
https://bitly.ws/3a6fK

16/01/2024

A captivating story, classic for art lovers and an unexpected ending is how readers describe this book.

“I liked the philosophical aspect of the story and how it raises relevant questions human beings often deal with such as the meaning of life, the ideals we strive to reach, and what we should consider valuable.”

Read Araz Madadi’s Review of “The Picture of Dorian Gray: What’s Behind the Picture?”

https://bitly.ws/39WMQ

13/01/2024

“Ballet dictates taste,” says Armenian ballet dancer Raffi Galstyan. He reflects on his ballet journey, highlighting the challenges and international recognition that come with the artistic form.

🩰Find Anna Afyan’s article called “The 21st Century Aram Khachaturian’s Spartacus” ​​
https://bitly.ws/39yGJ

11/01/2024

Transforming ideas into successful startups,😍EPIC is a global hub propelling innovation through programs like the 15-week Incubation Program, the 10-week STRIVE Pre-Incubation Program, and the two-day EPIC Jam i”deathon”, fostering collaboration and providing mentorship 🙌

Check out ’s article by Hrach Arzumanyan about by following this link
https://bitly.ws/39yGv

11/01/2024

🎊The New Year brings new resolutions, and it's vital to craft realistic goals, steering clear of mental habits like toxic positivity that can lead to burnout.

“Checking something off your to-do list should not hold authority over you.”

Read our editorial “The Yearly Loop of Toxic Positivity” through the link 👇
https://bitly.ws/39yDQ

06/01/2024

🤔It is frequently asked why Armenians celebrate Christmas in January instead of December 25 like the rest of the world. The Highlander prepared an informative read explaining the significance of the holiday. 🎄❤️

31/12/2023

🎊 Wishing a very Happy New Year from the Highlander Magazine team🎄❤️

28/12/2023

“Yet here we are, united not by peace
But by the endless chain of massacres,
A struggling nation, parts of which will cease existing.”

“Humanism,” being Elina Yerkanyan’s wrenchingly heartfelt poem of Armenia’s longlived situations will surely resonate with any Armenian reader, or anyone who has had a glimpse of our tragic history. 💔

https://bit.ly/4azjIv0

28/12/2023

“Big wigs, crazy makeup and shining costumes turn a
man into a queen.”

Armenia lacks a supportive drag community due to deep-seated homophobia, making it difficult for drag artists to thrive locally and leading them to seek opportunities abroad.

Check out Ruben Ohanyan’s latest article “Armenian Queens: The Challenges and Triumphs of Drag Culture in Armenia” ✨

https://bit.ly/3vdDpZ8

28/12/2023

“I’m here,” I call out, realizing no one is there. And my voice echoes into the empty space, and
her chair is still right by the door.
As I look around, I realize It’s cold and empty; it never used to be this way.” 📃✨

Araz Madadi hits all the right notes with her latest poem, “My Nightmare Was Once a Sanctuary,” which unravels slowly to express sentiments familiar to many. ✍️❣️

https://bit.ly/47vx5tD

20/12/2023

“Torik represents the movie itself, a boy who bravely stands against a ruthless society that has shunned him for so long and is loved truly by the perfect woman for him. Similarly, the movie stood against Soviet Armenian ideals and overall traditionalism and is now one of the most loved movies by youths and adults.” 🎬

Miray Nalbandian’s movie review of a much loved Armenian classic, “A Piece of Sky” (Կտոր մը Երկինք) touches upon the very heart of our culture itself: traditionalism, bravery, and Gyumri. ❤️💙🧡

👉 https://bitly.ws/36GVJ

19/12/2023

“The walls were cracked, doors and windows didn’t have handles or k***s; there is a hole instead of a door k**b, so kids have to use that to open and close them. The gymnasium had nails coming out of the floorboards, making it treacherous for the students during their activities.”

🖇️Our Editorial is here “Protecting the Rights of Children at Armenian Schools” by Gaya Balian and Nairy Bzdigian

Check it out through the link
bit.ly/3RpfehT

23/11/2023

Thankful for

The Highlander team is wishing you a great full of gratitude, warmth, and joy, surrounded by the company of friends and family 🤗✨