By Staff Writer, Helen Msryan

            As each day goes by, people take what they have and what they can accomplish for granted. Yet, when they find out that they have a short time to live, they rush to do everything they ever dreamed of doing.

            What do you want to do before you die?

            Children, for example, seem to answer this question from their imagination. From wanting to be a monster’s sidekick to becoming a police officer; their dreams get the best of them.

            “One thing I want to do before I die is learn to listen to everyone,” four-year-old Kristine Tazyan said. “Also, I would like to become a police officer so I [can] put all the bad people in jail.”

            It seems that a kindergardener would be oblivious to getting old. But not Tazyan, who has many aspirations.

            But it seems that kids and teens do not think too differently.

            Jonathan Acevedo (’09) wanted to become a movie star as a kid, so he could marry a model. He also wanted to be a power ranger so he could fight evil.

            “Now, as a teenager, I think better and want to become either a talk show host or a juvenile counselor.”

            Before he dies, Acevedo wants to earn a million dollars, without winning the lottery. He wants to earn it, and also do something he likes and is good at, while earning his money.

            Although kids and teens seem to think alike, older people have different perspectives about life.

Seventy-five year old Pyruz Grigoryan had many dreams as a young girl. She was born in Greece and had always been dedicated to school. One thing she wanted to do most was to go to college and graduate with honors. Having immigrated to Armenia after World War II, her dreams were torn due to the poor living situations.

            “As a teenager, I had to work in a factory just so I could support my family,” Grigoryan said. “It was very hard for me because I wanted to go to high school and college more than anything.”

            Now, before she dies, Grigoryan wants to go and visit her hometown: Greece. She would also be very happy to see her four grandchildren marry.

            Everyone has dreams. Even though a younger child’s dreams seem to come from their imagination, everyone has something they would like to do before they die.