When I moved to Salt Lake City in 2009, I met a teller at Wells Fargo named Ojik. I learned that like me, Ojik was Armenian.
When she found out that I was an Armenian lawyer, she lit up and exclaimed, “You must the be lawyer that I was referred to!”
I told her that she must be mistaken because I didn’t know anyone in Salt Lake City. She pulled a business card out of her purse. The name on the business card was not mine. It was Melanie Vartabedian. Apparently, we were the only two Armenian female lawyers in Salt Lake City. (We have since been joined by Karina Sargsian.)
Ojik handed me the business card and said, “you should call her.” I took the card to be polite but had no intention of calling a complete stranger.
A couple of weeks later, I saw a CLE notice that listed Melanie as one of the speakers. I felt that it was a sign.
I sent an email to Melanie along the lines of “You don’t know me but I’m new in town and I was wondering if I could buy you lunch.” She said yes. We’ve been friends ever since and have enjoyed seeing our sons become friends as well.
Is there anyone in your life that you met by being brave and vulnerable?