One player discovers the 'grass isn't always greener' elsewhere in high school sports

"On a Monday in January, he checked out of Chaminade. On Tuesday, he began classes and football practice at Burbank High. By Tuesday afternoon, when his mother picked him up after football practice, he told her, "I don't think it's the right place for me." "You're probably right," she said. "How do you feel? Do you want to go back to Chaminade?" "Yes," he said."

"By Thursday, he was back at Chaminade in the same classes. He felt awkward, but his teachers joked, "You missed me already?" It took courage to ask for a second chance, and what a decision it has turned out to be. Five times this season, Agazaryan has been named a team captain by his coach. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound senior been a standout offensive tackle and defensive lineman."

""The grass isn't always greener where you go," he said. "I discovered there's not many places better than Chaminade." It was his parents who gave him the green light to transfer even though they wanted him to stay. "Honestly, at the time, I had a lot of friends [at Burbank]," he said. "They were texting me every day. I wasn't doing very good academically here. I thought I needed a restart.""

Harout Agazaryan checked out of Chaminade and enrolled at Burbank High, but after one day realized the new school was not the right fit and asked to return. He rejoined Chaminade within days and resumed the same classes, feeling awkward at first as teachers reacted with humor. After returning, Agazaryan transformed his approach, earning five team captain selections and standing out as a 6-foot-3, 255-pound offensive tackle and defensive lineman. His parents initially approved the transfer despite preferring he stay. He cited friends and academic struggles as reasons for leaving and learned the change was not an improvement.

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