A Conversation with Mrs. Khanchalian

Eliana: What subject do you teach? How did you discover TPS, and how long have you been teaching?

Mrs. Khanchalian: I teach AP Psychology here at TPS, and I sometimes adjunct teach Intro to Psychology at a community college near me. I discovered TPS in February of 2021 through a HS student who I had been mentoring from church. She had taken several courses at TPS and was going on a missions trip that one of the TPS teachers was helping lead. When her family realized that TPS was looking for a  Psychology teacher, they directed me to the post and encouraged me to apply. This is my third year teaching with TPS. I have loved getting to know the students and the opportunity to teach at a school where it is encouraged that I incorporate and discuss how the Word of God speaks into Psychology and is the ultimate authority. 

Eliana: Can you tell me about your family? Do you have any pets? Where do you live?

Mrs. Khanchalian: We have several teachers in the family. My mom teaches Speech and the Bible, my dad is a Sunday school teacher, one of my brothers teaches HS Spanish, and I have two brothers who are pastors. My husband, Dave, and I got married two and a half years ago (during Covid) on the back lawn of my brother’s church. We met through volunteering with the youth group at our old church. Currently, we live in San Dimas, California and are preparing for the very soon arrival of our first baby (a girl) in January.  

Eliana: Congratulations! What’s your favorite breakfast food? 

Mrs. Khanchalian: Any type of croissant or pastry is my favorite part of breakfast. I love having a little touch of sweetness in the morning, and if there is chocolate in it that’s even better. 

Eliana: Excellent choice. Why did you decide to teach psychology?

Mrs. Khanchalian: I became interested in psychology in High School when my sister got really sick with cancer. I spent a lot of time at her bedside in the hospital but also a lot of time observing other people in the halls as they emotionally dealt with grief and heartbreak. By God’s grace, my sister got better, but I knew that many don’t, and a lot of people have to come to terms with their loss. I wanted to study that and learn how to help people through their grief. 

Eliana: What’s your favorite parable Jesus used and why?

Mrs. Khanchalian: One of my favorite parables is the parable of the sower which is found in Matthew 13, as well as in Mark and Luke. In the parable, Jesus talks about how seed is put down but flourishes depending upon the soil in which it is being planted. The seed sown among the thorns always has drawn my attention because it says that it is choked up by the cares of this world and does not bear fruit. I have always been a big planner/worrier, and with that comes a tendency to be consumed with the cares of this world rather than lifting my eyes up to Christ and eternity with Him. This parable indicates that when we do that, we cannot bear fruit and are not able to be used in the same way for His kingdom. It has always been a reminder to me to LOOK UP rather than looking around at the world. When we look up into the face of our Savior, we are able to bear fruit, live for Him, and can finely flourish in the way He created us to. 

Eliana: What a wonderful reminder! When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why?

Mrs. Khanchalian: I loved being a kid, enjoying the summers with friends and all the different things we did as a family. That made me want to grow up to be a mom, enjoy a community of people around us, and be heavily involved in church. 

Eliana: What’s one valuable life lesson you’ve learned that you’d like to share with the TPS community?

Mrs. Khanchalian: The thing you think about and that consumes your time is a strong indicator of what you value. In so many of our lives, that thing can be achievement, popularity, or comfort. These are idols and are a waste of our time because they will fade and will not matter when you stand before your creator one day. C.T Studd said “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” So I urge everyone to consider what they choose to do with their life: Will it be spent on things that will fade away and erode or will it be well spent on seeking and glorifying our Lord and Savior?