An Interview with Martin Azizyan

Martin is currently in his sophomore year at Duke University. He is from Yerevan, Armenia and is the youngest of five siblings who all studied in the United States at one time or another. He is currently undecided about his major, but has a large interest in Computer Science.


Why did you initially decide to study in the United States?

For me it wasn’t even a decision, as I watched all of my siblings do the same thing. But for all of us, we knew that we could receive a better education.  There is much more money for education here -- especially in a field like Computer Science. I can trust the books and information and are up to date and the faculty have the most relevant experience.

You are obviously very close to your family. How did your parents feel about all of their children seeking opportunities so far from home?

In a sense, they prepared us for this, because we were all home-schooled for our primary and secondary education. They knew it was the right thing to do, but still had a very tough time when my oldest brother first left.  They didn’t really care much when it was time for me to go.

What have been some of the most noticeable cultural adjustments you have had to make in your short time here?

For me it is a little difficult to differentiate which adjustments or surprises have been cultural, because I was schooled at home. Every aspect of going to class, discussing in large groups, etc. has been new, but it is probably a different type of adjustment than other students from Armenia have had to make.

Have you noticed any differences in the values of your peers here at Duke that are new to you?

I think the biggest value that has been a new experience is diversity. And to give an example, the amount of talk and emphasis put on recognizing and combatting racism is so much more prevalent here.  I am not saying that racism doesn’t exist in Armenia, or that I hadn’t heard of it, but it seems almost instinctive to think about it here. A lot of this could be due to the fact that 97% of Armenia identifies as Christian-Armenian.

Do you feel that the amount and prevalence of diversity and multiculturalism can be make it harder to adapt for someone who comes from a more homogeneous place?

There is much more to learn in a place like this but it is very exciting. Here there is pressure to conform like in every society, but the options to how someone can conform are much greater than where I come from.

What has been your favorite class here after 3 semesters?

It is definitely the ComSci (Computer Science) 49S. It involved many fascinating discussions about the impact of technology on society. And it was very easy.  I have really loved all my classes, even Writing 20, and I hate to write.

So you are clearly enjoying yourself here, but what do you miss most about Armenia?

First there are two clichés that most International Students would say: family and food.  And those two are definitely true for me. But after that, I would say that I miss the wind. There isn’t really a winter wind, but in the summer there is a warm wind the sweeps through every night after the sunset. It is the most relaxing experience I have ever had.

That is very poetic for a Computer Science enthusiast who hates to write.

I guess so.

If you think about the next 5 years, what are you most looking forward to?

With my personality it is easier to say what I am most afraid of . . . and that is I will slip up now in a way that jeopardizes my goal to pursue a career in academia.  But really, I am very excited to start immersing myself in my own research. I have already gotten a taste of it through a program in the ComSci department called C-SURF where we will be working on a project to test the algorithms which tell robots what to do.  It will be done with 3-D simulation which is a lot more cost efficient than building the robots themselves.

Okay, now we will end on another one of your favorite subjects. What has been your favorite new food that you have tried here?

I don’t know about favorite, but the most different and interesting is the sweet potato.