noticed my desk was empty, she in-
quired why I was not in school. She
was told my parents could not pay the
tuition. She then told the principal to
deduct my tuition from her salary.
The whole year I sat in Ms. Balian’s
class, thinking about her magnani-
mous gesture but unable to express
my appreciation. A year later, I moved
to the United States. I eventually re-
ceived two master’s degrees, one from
Columbia University and one from
Pepperdine University.
I never forgot the kindness and gen-
erosity of Ms. Balian. Almost 40 years
later, I returned to Beirut for the first
time to donate $4.5 million from Kirk
Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation to all
28 Armenian schools in Lebanon.
Among the schools I visited was my
former high school. While handingtuition. I was stunned when the prin-
cipal screamed at me that there was
no such thing as a discounted tuition.
I immediately turned around and
rushed back to my father’s tire shop.
Three days later, one of my class-
mates from Sophia Hagopian came
over. Our principal had sent him to tell
me that I should come back to school.
When I arrived, I told the registrar
that I could not pay the tuition. She
informed me that my tuition was fully
paid and that I should join my class-
mates. I asked who had paid for my tu-
ition so I could thank that wonderful
individual. I was told that the benefac-
tor wanted to remain anonymous.I went to my classroom, but I kept
wondering who had given me this
golden opportunity. I went back to
the principal’s office after classes
and begged the registrar to disclose
the name of the benefactor. Upon
my insistence—and on the condition
that I didn’t go and thank the person
and risk the registrar’s getting fired
for breaking confidentiality—she in-
formed me that the benefactor was
my English teacher, Olivia Balian.
The registrar explained that when
the school year started and Ms. BalianI finally learned who my
benefactor was—on the
condition that I couldn’t
thank her for her actions.Olivia Balian taught at Sophia Hagopian
High School for 25 years.Reader’s Digest Inspiration
courtesybalian^familyarchives(inset)74 september 2019 | rd.com