This step is long overdue, because it occupied a lot of my mind; it occupied my entire mind to be honest. I am publishing this letter in the airport and will like to direct it towards all Armenians worldwide in every corner of the globe. Of course it is directed towards all Armenians, but only those Armenians who consider themselves true patriots, will be able to comprehend this message. 
Being born and raised in the United States and living my whole life there I came to understand that it wasn’t my place. I felt that on a subconscious level in my youth and as the years went on I felt it more consciously. I felt that way because the more I lived in Babylon, the more my heart yearned towards my country Armenia. I have always been a racially conscious person and always struggled to maintain my identity by learning how to read, write and speak Armenian fluently and properly all by myself, regardless of the fact that I was raised in the “Mecca” of multiculturalism. I had a rough childhood but my youth was not bad at all, due to the fact that I am blessed by having a wonderful family, who has always been at my side in times of need. I never graduated high school because I was expelled and decided to drop out. Soon after I began working different jobs for minimum wage but soon realized that those jobs were not for me, so I entered Glendale Community College then transferred to California State University Northridge to pursue a Master of Science degree in physics. In the summer of 2013 I visited Armenia for the first time all by myself and I got even more convinced that this is where I want to spend the rest of my life. After my visit I vowed to return and never look back and today is the day that I keep my word. After I returned from Armenia I began instructing physics labs at the university and in 2015 I received my master degree in that field from CSUN. Almost immediately after, I got hired at Glendale Community College as a physics instructor. All my life I have had strong patriotic feelings and during the years those feelings began to intensify. I always thought about how I can serve the fatherland and came to the conclusion that a true patriot can serve his country best by living there. I have also agreed with the opinion that an Armenian only stays an Armenian in Armenia and Armenians outside the fatherland are only “half” Armenian. Therefore, after only a year of teaching at GCC, I decided to not suppress my feelings and carry out the step that every Armenian should carry out (if of course they are concerned about preserving their identity) and return to the fatherland. After graduating from the university, I had only two options: either stay in the US and pursue a doctorate, continue teaching and start a family there, or to finally return to the fatherland and enlist in the Armenian Armed Forces and wholly dedicate myself to sacred Armenian cause. 
The feelings I had intensified especially during the April Four Day War which took place this year, and that reinforced my belief that I was born for the upcoming war and all other plans I had simply vanished from my mind. 
I began to pack my bags, leave my comfortable life in the states, quit my job, and declined a job offer to Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I did all that because I know I am born for something much greater. 
There are many people, who would think I am crazy for making such a decision, but this letter is directed to the few people who would understand and hopefully these words would resonate with their soul. To put it simply, my decision comes from the fact that my love towards the fatherland is unconditional, and if you truly love someone, then it is only natural that you want to be with him or her. Just as a true friend is one who stays with you during hard times, so too a true patriot is someone who stays with their country during hard times. Therefore, this is one step that I can no longer avoid. I believe that starting a new life in the fatherland is a positive change because it is the morally right thing to do for all Armenians. This year we celebrated 25 years of our countries independence, but it seems there are many of us who do not appreciate that. We fought for our freedom, we fought for our independence. Our ancestors struggled and bled in order for us to have a piece of land that we can call home. They sacrificed everything for us to live on our soil and not emigrate and turn our back against the fatherland. Our freedom fighters secured our independence, but now that independence is under attack, and that fact should be on the minds of all Armenians as their number one problem. Creating a strong and united Armenia has been the dream of all true Armenian patriots for centuries. However, it is not enough to dream or believe in a Greater Armenia, we must fight for it, and fight for it with all our heart and soul. I believe fate has created me as the bridge between two worlds: the diaspora and Armenia. That is why I would like to set an example to the Armenians living around the world who have thoughts on leaving Babylon and returning home to the fatherland. I hope that this step will inspire many Armenians who do have those thoughts and hopefully understand that whatever they wish for is not far from reality. If there is a will, then a way will always open, if the path does not open, then the will is not strong enough. We have to stop being spectators or complainers and become participants in the historical process. We have to understand as well that if we really wish to create a better country, then we must be willing to make sacrifices to reach our goals. We must accept personal responsibility for our country and make a conscious choice to stand by it at all times. We must do away with all excuses and limitations which hinder us from achieving our goals. If our dream of returning to the fatherland and creating a strong united Armenia was more than just a vague ambition, if we were absolutely to do it, then nothing would be able to prevent us. There will be many challenges and obstacles ahead, but we must be spiritually ready to overcome it all. I would like to conclude this letter by saying thanks to my family for all their help and support and also to the United States of America for having me as its guest. The road ahead of me looks dark and difficult, but I know I’m on the right path. I know I was put here to do this. I heard the cry of the land and she was calling my name. There was a dream that was Greater Armenia, and it shall be realized. 

Hayk Nazaryan
27 November 2016