Joy - A Profile Piece on Vivi Melkonian
Daughter. Sister. Friend. Role model. Musician. Equestrian. Explorer. Creator. Dreamer. Vivi.
December 30, 2001
Most people enter the world with a fear of the unknown, cowering behind their parents’ guidance, awaiting their welcome into a society of ease. They conform to non-existent boundaries, containing the ir potential with non-existent limits in order to remain relaxed. Vivi seeks the opposite. At a young age, Vivi picked up the violin. Though it felt awkward to hold, and even more awkward to play, she countered those struggles with practice. Inspired by her father’s major in viola, Vivi wanted a violin of her own in order to share what she had learned, though it would require hard work and dedication.
In 2008, after countless hours of off-key, spine-tingling practice, Vivi decided to boast her talents to the up-and-coming metropolis of Sandy Springs. She was meticulous with every note, focusing intently on her left-hand fingertips, hoping they were arranged to create the proper vibration. The outcome wasn’t so bad- for a seven-year-old. Even still, what stood out most was not the performance, but the beaming smile she flashed to the crowd as if she’d just planted her flag on the moon. She radiated with confidence, leaping over the amp as she sprung from the stage.
Over the next few years, Vivi struggled to make progress; the notes grew more complicated and her dyslexia made it near impossible to make sense of the madness on the page in front of her.
But Vivi, with her marrow-deep passion for challenge, would not let any obstacles stop her from mastering something, no matter its difficulty. At age 10, she began her pursuit of another challenge, and this time, she wouldn’t have to read notes. Though she was stubborn, angry, and out of control, Vivi’s first temporary horse, Gracie, represented the beginning of a new adventure. Gracie fueled a companionship between woman and beast, an unbreakable bond that revolutionized the way Vivi interacted with her environment. She loved to ride, and the observable connection between input (in practice) and output (in performance) caused Vivi to fall in love with the sport. She feels fulfilled with every turn and her veins pulse with freedom upon every jump. She loves to ride. So, she continued to progress with Harold, and eventually her own horse, Bennie, in search of new horizons and fresh opportunities within her passion. Today, Vivi volunteers to guide children and teens through therapeutic horseback riding activities at the Chastain Horse Park. Though this brings her incredible joy, one experience, from when she was a freshman at Galloway topped them all.
Beyoncé was coming to Atlanta, and a month before the concert, Vivi’s parents had surprised her with tickets. Little did she know, her seats were located on the platform for those with disabilities, like elderly people who struggle to stand. Naturally, when the concert began, she and her best friend Elizabeth danced as if nobody were watching, swinging their heads and jumping up and down. After a few minutes, they turned back, realizing that they were blocking the views of many other concert-goers, strapped to their wheelchairs and unable to better position themselves. A few even complained, but this was Beyoncé, and Vivi was surely not going to let that stop her from living it up. Eventually, a security guard approached them, and she expected to be escorted either out of the stadium, or…well… she really had no idea what was to come. She, Elizabeth, and their moms were guided out of the ‘Disabled’ section and down a number of stairs. The guard handed each of them badges and gestured the friends towards one of those ribbons they use at airports to keep people in line. Vivi thought her night had been spoiled, when in reality, she was headed for the ‘Beyhive’ the infamous pit located in the gap between he aisles of the stage. She was shocked. At one point, Beyonce Knowles, the Queen Bey, danced within inches of Vivi’s awestruck eyes.
“That was the best night of my life.”
By Ethan Hartz
