“Coming to Freedom House has given me a sense of self-confidence that I never expected to have”
Q: Where are you from?A: I’m from Ethiopia, in Africa.
Q: What school do you attend?A: I attend the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB), where I am a sophomore studying Human Biology.
Q: Share a memory you have while at Freedom House.A: I recall being nervous the first time I was hired as a junior coach to help high school students; being in a situation I had never imagined myself in felt both wonderful and overwhelming in a positive way. But I performed well, and everyone encouraged me that I should keep doing what I wanted. I feel that was a key moment in my developing self-confidence to its full potential.Q: What are you thankful for?A: I’m glad for luck for bringing me to Freedom House and helping me become who I am, and I’m also thankful for everyone at Freedom House for being a wonderful family since I came to this country.
Q: How has Freedom House impacted you?
A: Freedom House has shaped who I am now; anytime I had problems as a teenager who didn’t understand how this country worked, Freedom House was there for me. I’ve also been working at Freedom House for two years. It’s a great location for people like me to work since every student I meet there is striving to adapt to this country as they progress and have a better understanding with the assistance of Freedom House. So far, just coming to Freedom House and being a part of the organization has given me a sense of self-confidence that I never expected to have; I now feel more like myself than ever before, like the me that I was back in my country, a free and independent self.
