Check Out Haig “Hike” Chahinian’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haig “Hike” Chahinian.

Hi Haig “Hike”, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a quiet, skinny kid at an Armenian school in Pico Rivera, I was expected to marry a woman from our tribe, have children, and teach them the mother tongue so as to help make up for the 1.5 million who’d been murdered in the Armenian Genocide. I was on board with the plan: make my family proud, be a good husband and father, and be there for my loved ones in a way I wished I could have felt growing up.
Yet my first year in college, I could no longer deny I was attracted to men. I studied psychology, trying to resolve my personal turmoil. After graduating I headed to New York, where I met the greatest guy, a handsome museum manager I moved in with. I told him I wanted a baby. After years struggling to figure out how, at last we became the proud fathers of a Black biracial girl through domestic adoption. I was grateful to have an academic background in race and racial identity. Then as my daughter grew, I found myself making mistakes every day.
I revealed my fumbles through parenthood in multiracial America in personal essays published by The Los Angeles Times, O The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times and The Washington Post. I received touching messages from readers of all backgrounds who found my stories compelling, and said they could relate.
All the fragments of my life were finally falling into place. Then one night, after a celebratory sushi dinner with my husband, I landed in the emergency room. Doctors discovered a tumor in my brain. Lying in the hospital, I worried how little time might be left. When I learned it was benign, I realized I really wanted to tell more of my story.
I’d always loved live theater, and was thrilled when I happened upon the Hollywood Fringe Festival. I fleshed out some of my essays for a one man show. I studied the work of Jerrod Carmichael, who’s hilarious and thought-provoking, with a knack for making everyone root for him. I wanted to do the same thing on stage. But I needed a creative consultant. A friend led me to storytelling whisperer Greg Walloch, a fellow Angelino. Greg helped me shape my show to grab an audience’s attention and not let go until curtain.
After a year of writing, revising, rehearsing, repeat, I completed my hopefully humorous one-hour debut called Best. Dad. NEVER. about striving to raise a self-assured biracial daughter but coming up against my scars as a gay Armenian-American. I’m excited that it’ll be running at the Hudson Theatre this June as part of Hollywood Fringe.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting on stage hasn’t been easy for me. I was feeling awkward at first, uncomfortable under the spotlight. Finally during a recent run-through, my mind was torn open. Talking through my discomfort, it seemed my late father, Leon, had something to do with it. Unconsciously, I was perceiving everyone in the audience to be him: withholding, ready to attack, upset that I was so open about my homosexuality. It wasn’t his fault; his parents had been orphaned in the Ottoman Turks’ killing spree, and my sexuality threatened his world view. As it did for many of our people. But just as soon as I identified the problem, he helped me solve it. My dad rarely considered what others thought of him, following his own whim. I now channel his self-directed way while performing, and I’m more at ease.
I’m sad my father isn’t alive to see my solo show. But I’m happy my 82-year-old mom is. I scheduled a special Summer Solstice Saturday performance at 5:00PM so she and other early birds can come see it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been working as a career counselor in private practice ever since completing grad school where I specialized in organizational psychology. As the third born in the shadow of two older sisters, it made sense to find a calling that involved silent, active attention. But listening has sometimes felt like a liability when promoting Best. Dad. NEVER.. A colleague pointed out that when someone’s deciding to attend a solo show, they’re figuring out if they like you enough to spend an hour together. If they feel heard by you, the answer will likely be “yes.” I didn’t know “quiet self-promotion” could be a thing.
As the principal of Chahinian Career Services, writing, career counseling, and performing have gone hand in hand for me since all take active listening, creative thinking, and my full presence. I’ve always put words on paper in my coaching practice: editing LinkedIns, cover letters, resumes, and designing professional development courses. Leading seminars involves a kind of performance, too. It feels like Best. Dad. NEVER. is calling upon so much of my background in this one project.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’ve been lucky to have more than one mentor during my career. I was trained in the art and science of career counseling by David Rottman, a brilliant Jungian analyst. My writing teacher, author Susan Shapiro, taught me how to publish my writing along with how to be a good literary citizen. These days I’m eager to attend the events of my friends and colleagues, buy their books and tickets to their shows. Susan always says to lead your least secretive life, which perfectly fits Best. Dad. NEVER. I spill way many long-guarded secrets in this piece.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chahinian.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h41g
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chahinian
• Other: https://www.bestdadnever.com