Today we’d like to introduce you to Raffi Wartanian.
Hi Raffi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a writer, musician, and educator who is passionate about social justice, creativity, and innovative institutions. My grandparents and great-grandparents are survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and my parents were displaced by the Lebanese Civil War. Along with my siblings, I was the first generation in my family to be born in the US, in the great city of Baltimore, Maryland.
I share this to indicate that displacement, migration, and the tension between cultural assimilation vs. preservation have been central to my journey before I had an awareness of what these concepts meant. I’ve been blessed to cultivate various creative practices–music, writing, organizing, and beyond–that allow me to explore, unpack, and engage these dynamics in ways that help me see how they relate to the greater human experience.
I recently came across a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This adage has rung true in my own life. Whether I’m organizing a reading, leading a writing workshop, sharing a piece of music, or supporting a nonprofit whose mission resonates with me, I believe that creativity in all its forms is most generatively harnessed when it serves others by building community, sharing inspiration, and delivering opportunities and resources.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The worthy endeavor, I believe, is inherently challenging, for it questions the status quo, traverses uncharted courses, and places us outside of our comfort zones. In other words, I believe it is important to recognize that struggle is a fundamental element of any worthwhile undertaking. So, no, I would definitely not say my journey has been easy or smooth, and that is what has made it worthwhile and beautiful.
Questioning myself has surely been one of those challenges that I, like many others, have faced. Self-questioning and self-doubt often involve internalizing the skeptical voices of others. For me, at various points, I have been questioned and doubted by countless people I love–friends, family, and beyond–and at other points, I have been questioned and doubted by complete strangers. Strangers’ perspectives are easier to let go of, but when the questions and doubts come from people I care about, that can be harder to navigate.
Sometimes, those questions and doubts were valid. Sometimes, those questions and doubts arose from misunderstanding or miscommunication. And sometimes, those questions and doubts reflected the insecurities of the person with whom I spoke. Whatever the reason for those questions and doubts, I have tried to allow myself to experience the feeling and then to let it go. I also tried to be mindful of how these dynamics originate, and I noticed it occurred because I asked other people for their opinion on something I already had an intuitive belief in. Noticing this taught me the importance of strengthening belief and confidence in my own intuition and not allowing the allure of external validation to supplant the power of internal belief.
I have also struggled with indecision. Perhaps it’s because I’m a Libra. Perhaps it’s because the escalation from deliberation to indecision was modeled for me in childhood. Perhaps it’s because we live in a hyper-consumerist economy supercharged by the “paradox of choice” (Schwartz). When it came to personally high-stakes decisions in the past (Where should I live? What should I do?), I entered a state of analysis paralysis and lost sight of the path ahead of me. I worked hard on addressing this issue by ultimately making difficult decisions, holding myself accountable, letting go, and trying to make the very most of the present moment. Staying rooted in the present, as I explore later in this reflection, has been fundamental to my ability to focus on progress, process, and well-being.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a writer, musician, and educator who teaches writing at UCLA and serve as the inaugural Poet Laureate in the City of Glendale, California. I compose essays, poems, and music and organize community around threads of solidarity, diversity, and tolerance. I’m most proud of my family, community, and commitment to always grow and learn. What sets me apart is the thing that makes me the same as everyone else: I try to be myself while embracing the ever-evolving nature of existence and identity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.raffijoewartanian.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raffijoe/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaffiJo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaffiJoeWartanian
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73_pZ5oc-h8&list=RDCpX7YiipWDc&index=3
Image Credits
Beverly Funkhouser
Anastasia Italyanskaya
Anahid Yahjian
