Asbarez – Sona Movsesian from Conan O’Brien Presents: Team Coco returned to her Alma Mater, Armenian Mesrobian School, to discuss her recent visit to Armenia with Conan O’Brien.
“I was and still am very proud to have gone to Mesrobian,” shared Movsesian, who attended Mesrobian school while growing up in the tight-knit Armenian community of Montebello, where she forged a connection with her Armenian heritage.
Movsesian discussed working in the entertainment industry and what it was like to be an Armenian in her professional life.
“Talking about being Armenian and making sure people knew that’s who I was actually helped me stand out a lot in life. It was something a lot of people knew about me and related about with me,” said Movsesian.
Movsesian was greeted with cheers and applause when she walked into an assembly of Mesrobian High School students. They had the opportunity to ask her questions and share their reflections on the episode.
“I don’t think anything compares to seeing Ararat for the first time. It’s like a painting, it’s so beautiful,” remarked Movsesian.
Since its broadcast last week, Conan O’Brien’s visit to Armenia with Movsesian has gone viral. News of the show was covered by international media, trended across social media platforms, recorded 1.3 million television viewers on its first broadcast (doubling the show’s average), and has since reached millions upon millions of people.
“Just like you, Sona was a student here,” Principal David Ghoogasian said to students during the assembly. “I always talk about what Mesrobian alumni are like and how proud we are of them. When you leave here, each of you has the potential to do something great too,” he added.
“I was and still am very proud to have gone to Mesrobian,” shared Movsesian, who attended Mesrobian school while growing up in the tight-knit Armenian community of Montebello, where she forged a connection with her Armenian heritage.
Movsesian discussed working in the entertainment industry and what it was like to be an Armenian in her professional life.
“Talking about being Armenian and making sure people knew that’s who I was actually helped me stand out a lot in life. It was something a lot of people knew about me and related about with me,” said Movsesian.
“Maybe by being vocal about Armenia it didn’t seem like such a farfetched idea to travel there, and it wasn’t.”
She added, “We had a budget to go anywhere in the world, and Conan is the one who wanted to go to Armenia and it made a huge difference. I can’t thank him enough for wanting to go.”
With all the attention, Movsesian is amused but also a little reluctant with her newfound celebrity.
“I don’t know how to respond to this,” she said, describing the feeling of random text messages and friend requests from fans.
“It’s all very strange,” she said laughing.
Armenian Mesrobian School, established in 1965, is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has Nursery School (2 years old) through High School (12th Grade) on the same campus. The High School curriculum is certified to the University of California.
