MIHRET YEMERBILEW

Mihret Yemerbilew is a young lady from Ethiopia and she holds a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Gondar. She is a junior pharmacist and in the meantime, she is pursuing her studies in Business Management in the hope that she will start her own business.

“Get out of your comfort zone and believe in yourself”

Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings!

I was born in a small city called Debrebirihan in Ethiopia. Right after my birth, my whole family moved to the capital city, Addis Ababa and I started my school at the spiritual school around the neighbourhood. With a long-term goal of being an architect, aside from attending school, I used to be engaged in spiritual activities and painting, but right after I joined high school I found myself being highly interested in human biology and medicine and decided to study for my bachelor degree in School of Pharmacy. Now after a five-year journey at the University of Gondar, I am a junior pharmacist and in the meantime pursuing Business Management in the hope that I will start my own business.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

There are some ethnic problems making it difficult to work in different regions of the country. The civil war is having an impact on inflation. Even after securing a job, a person cannot have their needs fulfilled or their security guaranteed. This all leads to an unsafe environment to live in and sabotages the dreams of the younger generation.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them?

When I was a teenager, I had an encounter with bullies and my thoughts were very distracted. I never realised that I was getting bullied but it soon started having an impact on my daily life, but through my older sister I started working on myself, my grades and my interest which helped me to focus on my ability rather than the words of others. I sometimes relapse to this experience from time to time but by maintaining my spiritual wellbeing I can say I was fully detached from their impact.

Another thing I can say is that right after I graduated the things I expected and the actual reality was so different. I expected to have a good job right away because of my good grade but instead, people were getting selected because of connections and I feel like all the hard work and effort that I put for the past five years was in vain. Still having a chance to apply to companies that evaluate fairly, I was able to get my current job and also I would like to mention that my mentor helped me on how to be presentable at an interview and by commenting and adding tips to my curriculum vitae.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

Growing up there were many situations where I was urged to make a bad decision in life, but taking advice from people around me and anyone who experienced anything similar, I believe there are fewer things I regret in life. My parents and my church have always guided me in values, standards, and goals that I set for the future. I believe this schemed path could not be reached at the destination without the help of others, the experiences of those who passed through it, and a trusted advisor who values their time for you.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?  

My older sister and I grew up in a very strict household, where we couldn’t do things we liked and explore our interests on our own. Then the moment we joined university we had a difficult time coping with the new environment, yet by taking risks and getting out of our comfort zone we were able to change the fear we used to have for experiencing new things. Now looking back to the past, I had experienced very uncomfortable things but by not running away from them I have gained a positive outcome.  Getting out of your comfort zone is key because our mind is a big circuit that can figure out a difficult maze and all we have to do is believe in ourselves.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

There is a foundation called Mekedoniya, it’s a charity centre; focusing mainly in helping elderly people with no family to take care of them, those who are disabled and have no way of earning money to take care of themselves. It inspires me that little things we do for others can change hearts of many, and bigger things can be achieved and the change can be magnificent.

One more institution that I had encountered is The Goethe Institute, where they incubate a creative generation. This is very important for the younger generation who are unable to shine by themselves. Other than these great foundations I see the visible positive outcome that Rotary Clubs in different districts bring to our society, especially to the younger generation.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

I have observed that women in our country are expected by our society to get married at an early age and despite being successful and well-educated the moment she is married and conceives a child she will be the only responsible person to take care of the children and I can say a lot of women around me have their dreams killed in order to take care of their family. To the extent that they can’t maintain the friendships they had, take time for themselves and have their own income. The family pressure starts soon after she graduates creating an image that she had no better path other than getting married, but I believe things are getting better now with educating parents and the whole society in general.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by.

‘’You are the master of your fate, and the Captain of your soul.’’ – Henry Ford.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do?

Despite having no exposure I always had an interest in ice skating and hockey playing. Not only me, but lots of teenagers are interested, yet the playing areas are not established. Government and youth associations are not investing in those people’s interests including mine as I was a child. So having all the money; I want to have a hockey playing ground and build a federation so the young generation can have access to it. In general, I have observed that parents in my country impose on their children that the only way to have a successful life is to have good grades in school and that they need to use all this energy and power they got for it, keeping their other ideas, interests and dreams to one side. So I want to have an institution that can bring the younger generation's interest to life and allow everyone to shine in their own colour.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add? 

I would like to thank you GTF for this opportunity. Coming up with these answers I spent quality time with myself. It was a very nice experience to listen to myself and those questions seem actually very easy to answer but it has made me see the change I have from time to time and the growth I have gained. I never thought I would have too much to talk about but I see words were not even enough. I can’t be grateful enough; thank you very much!!!