North County Times – Californian, CA
Jan 11 2009

LAKE ELSINORE: Teen overcomes adversity, named Youth of the Year

Takavorian, ‘a person of hope,’ named Youth of the Year

By JENNIFER KABBANY – For The Californian | Saturday, January 10, 2009
6:34 PM PST

LAKE ELSINORE—- Mary Takavorian was tapped Saturday as the Boys &
Girls Club’s local Youth of the Year, an honor years in the making for
the 16-year-old Lake Elsinore resident.

Mary is the first to admit she is not a perfect person, nor has she
led the perfect life.

At age 3 she was diagnosed with leukemia, and had to undergo
chemotherapy, then years of daily medications and blood work. The
medicine weakened her immune system and, growing up, she wasn’t
allowed to have pets or play outside very often.

Her middle school years brought a new set of challenges. She was
mocked at school because she was of Arab descent, teasing that
worsened after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Frustration over being robbed of a childhood because of cancer coupled
with embarrassment and self-esteem issues over schoolyard harassment
had its effects.

Describing herself as a "confused and at times rebellious adolescent,"
Mary said she would lash out at her parents or little sister, and deny
her Arabic heritage to peers.

"I started arguments at home," she said. "I had a temper."

But a couple of years ago, Mary said, something started to click —-
an "enlightenment" occurred. She said she began to realize that all
the hardships she had faced had in fact toughened her up and given her
confidence.

"I put the puzzle pieces together," she said.

She stopped denying her Arabic ethnicity, and now proudly talks of
it. She is willing to tell others of her bout with leukemia, something
she never did before.

Two years ago, Mary took on a volunteer position at the Alberhill
Ranch Boys & Girls Club to earn community service hours and quickly
became a leader there.

Mary distinguished herself as a leader, from telling a bunch of rowdy
teens to settle down, to answering phones, giving parents tours and
running programs, said Lisa Cabulagan, unit director for the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Southwest County.

Mary quickly became president of the club’s Keystone group, an
association of high school students. In that capacity, she led an
effort to pick up trash around Lake Elsinore and organized the
inaugural disability awareness games, where she invited the community
to play wheelchair basketball.

During this time, she has also maintained a 4.0 grade-point average at
Lakeside High School and dedicates hours to her passion for dance. She
even volunteered to help a group of young girls at the Boys & Girls
Club learn a new dance to perform.

"She is amazing," Cabulagan said. "I’m inspired by her integrity and
maturity."

Stan Scheer, superintendent of the Murrieta Valley Unified School
District and one of the judges for the award, described Mary as a
strong leader.

"She has a selfless attitude and has overcome a lot," he said. "She is
a person of hope."

As the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County’s Youth of the Year,
Mary will serve as an ambassador for the organization, representing it
at functions and fundraisers, and giving motivational speeches at
clubs around the region. She also will work as a leader at the clubs
to develop new programs for the kids.

Mary credits the Boys & Girls Club for helping her relive her
childhood, and opening her eyes to the vast diversity of the region.

Haifa Takavorian, Mary’s mother, said her daughter has always been
mature.

As a child, Mary would sit still and put on a brave face during her
bone marrow or spinal cord shots, Haifa said, adding that even back
then, doctors said� Mary would be a role model.

"She is a strong cookie," Haifa said.

Mary’s parents both immigrated to the Unites States from the Middle
East in the late 1980s. Mary speaks English, Armenian and Arabic
fluently. Her father, Simon, came to the United States to pursue "the
American dream."

Mary said that attitude has rubbed off on her. She said the sky is the
limit for her career as far as she is concerned. She has plans to be
an English teacher, but quickly adds she might become a lawyer or a
judge instead.

"And then president," her father added, half-serious.

"I’ve always had dreams," Mary said. "I am going to succeed."

Mary said her challenges have given her mental and emotional
toughness.

"I survived for a reason, and that’s to give back," she said. "That’s
how God wanted it."

s/2009/01/10/news/californian/lake_elsinore/z9b5d0 1b19c9d7d648825753a0080cd39.txt