This interview introduces Alem, a passionate scientist and mathematician from Mekele, Ethiopia. Raised and educated within the SOS Village of Mekele, Alem is funny, ambitious, and kind. He has an incisive mind and an open heart.
What excites you about math and science?
Both the theoretical and the practical applications of math and science have always fascinated me. Through Math and Science I was able to understand the logic behind the nature of the universe and how we can make the best out of it. I have always been very curious about why things behave the way they are and science was always there to provide me with satisfying answers.
What thoughts, hopes, or
fears did you have about leaving Africa for your university studies?
The
idea of coming to the US to attend college education has been my lifelong dream;
so you can imagine how excited I was about leaving Africa for University
studies. I knew this could be a major life change that could shape the course
of my life and I was so keen to make the best out of this golden opportunity.
However,
it was not still easy to leave home, family and friends. And there is also the
fear of culture shock. But I was able to embrace my fears by realizing how
leaving home can mean new adventures and new
friends.
Thus far, what has been
the most difficult challenge of adapting to life in North America? (Food?
Language? Culture? Etc)
Adapting
to life in the US was not as much a challenge, not at least to the extent I
expected. I found it fairly easy to
integrate with the society as the people are used to tolerating differences in
culture and language. Well, I, of course, encountered a bit of culture shock
but was not that difficult to handle.
What (so far) seems to
be the biggest difference between life in Ethiopia and life in the United
States?
One
of the major differences is the extent of complexity of the society. Here in
the US, life is highly influenced by technology and the society is somewhat
sophisticated and more organized. On the other hand, life in Ethiopia is a very
simple one in its kind and the system lacks organization. And, Ethiopians give
more value to social life than their American counter parts.
What do you miss most
about Ethiopia?
I
miss my family and my best friends, who never failed to make me smile every
day.
What do you (or would
you) tell Americans about Ethiopia that they don’t seem to understand?
Not
just Americans but most people of the world seem to have a wrong perception of
Ethiopia. They usually perceive it as a model of war, famine and draught, which
was the picture of the country two or three decades ago. While I can’t deny the
fact that Ethiopia is still one of the poorest countries in the world; I can’t
also negate the fact that my country is one of the fastest growing countries
and one of the most stable, peaceful countries which could be a model to many
African Nations.
Why did you choose to
come to the US for your university studies?
I
choose to study in the US because of the Educational system of the country. I
have been specially intrigued by the prevalence of liberal arts curriculum in
most of the US Colleges, which is not the case in many countries including my
country Ethiopia. I always wanted my college life to be a time to acquire
diverse knowledge and experience from different endeavors, not just to be
trained for a career. I wanted to be
taught the skill of learning itself and through the liberal arts education that
many US Colleges offer I can have all this. And, thanks to God I have already
started to taste the fruits of this kind of education.
Were you always
motivated to succeed as a student? If
not, who/what inspired you?
I
would say I was, because education was the only way I could see the bright
future, the way to fantasize my dreams. And my passion to turn my dreams to
reality motivated me to succeed as a student.
What are your goals as a
student?
My
goal as a student is to make the best out of my four year college life. I want
the next four years to be times when I will be well trained to tackle
challenges and obstacles. I also aim to pass at least three or four Actuarial
exams during my 4 year period.
