24 - Araksya Karapetyan on family, her career and Armenia
Araksya Karapetyan is an anchor on FOX 11 in Los Angeles beginning at 4:30 a.m. and is a mother, wife and proud Armenian -- among many other things.
Her family left everything behind in Armenia and immigrated to the United States when she was 7-years-old. A devastating earthquake, a brewing conflict with Azerbaijan and the demise of the Soviet Union all contributed to her family's decision to leave their homeland.
They settled in the South Bay of Los Angeles, and only able to speak Armenian and Russian at the time, she began learning English and adjusting to life in America.
She eventually went to college at Syracuse University and obtained a degree in International Relations and Broadcast Journalism. But it wasn't until she went back to visit Armenia that she found her true passion for journalism. Instead of doing the typical "touristy" things, she brought her camcorder and started interviewing people on the street to hear their stories.
Upon returning to America, she was hooked on storytelling. She started interning at KABC in Los Angeles and KFI 640 AM radio in Burbank before landing her first reporting job at KIDK in Idaho Falls. She then moved to KOIN in Portland before returning home to Los Angeles to work at FOX 11.
When reflecting back on her family's story, she said: "Even when I'm on TV, there are moments when I look around the studio and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, how did I end up here?'"
Araksya joined me on Olympic & Bundy to talk about her background and what led her to broadcast journalism, her close-knit family and what it was like moving to America at a child, getting married, becoming a mother and much more!
Share this story: http://bit.ly/2vibiss
Thank you to Araksya!
Subscribe to Olympic & Bundy on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher.
Connect on social: