Kaleab Belete
Quick Facts
Age: 21
Major: Mechanical Engineering, 2024
Additional Languages: Amharic, Gurage
Notable: First-generation
Transfer Institution: Seattle Central College, Associate of Science, Engineering
“To be chosen to become part of Alfie Scholars means getting to engage, discuss and share your experiences, weaknesses and strength with people who are from different backgrounds in order to understand and critically examine your life and others. It prepares you to find ways to speak your truth, have a mentality of a leader, foster civility to bring an impact in your surroundings and become the change that you wish to see in this world.”
Service & Work:
Hall Event Organization, Dakota State University, August–December 2019
Server and Customer Service, Dakota State University, August–December 2019
President, Hall Event Organizers, Dakota State University, August–December 2019
Captain, EPO Soccer Team, Dakota State University, February–July 2019
Member, International Student Association, Dakota State University, August–December 2019
Volunteer, Meseret Humanitarian Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Awards & Honors:
Alfie Scholars, Cohort 7, 2022–2024
President’s list and Dean’s list, Seattle Central College
Seattle Central Foundation Scholarship
Honors Society Award
Kaleab’s Story
My journey begins in a small town located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; the name of this small town is Haile Garment. I had a happy childhood growing up; our home used to be filled with families and friends. I am the middle child of three, and I have an amazing father and a very strong mother who I believe are my role models and people I look up to the most. Growing up as a kid, I never faced any challenges; final exams and what I am going to eat for lunch was my biggest worry at the time.
During my time in Ethiopia, I attended a private high school where discipline and academics were the core values of any student. When it comes to academics, I always excelled, and I was a top student in my class. My teachers’ and instructors’ primary focus in this school was to be disciplined and attain better grades. Even though achieving academic excellence is what matters the most, my teacher used to tell me that good grades alone are not enough to survive out there. At times, the character is more important than even good grades. In all honesty, good character and discipline became a foundation of working smart in school and attaining good grades which I still practice in my college years.
The stringent measures put by our teachers allowed me to attain a GPA of 4.0 that saw me apply for a program at Dakota State University. On August 20, 2019, I left all my families, friends, and people I know to pursue my degree in Business Administration and Management as an international student. After learning one quarter I found that business wasn't my calling. My parents had prospered in business, a scenario that made me think I could follow in their footsteps. I couldn’t also adapt to the weather, culture, and environment I was in as I immediately went from a place I called home to this small town in South Dakota named Madison.
These factors forced me to transfer to Seattle Central College and pursue my interest in Engineering, which I found was my passion. On January 3, 2020, I started my journey at Seattle Central College. At the start of the pandemic, Covid-19, on January 21st, my life as I know it changed. I have gone through several obstacles to be where I am today. My country was in an economic collapse because of an extreme shortage of US currency and delays by banks caused by covid-19 at first and the rise of tensions throughout the country on the brink of civil war. My parents got heavily affected by the pandemic; their businesses were halted due to the restrictive measures which saw them closed for a while. I solely depended on them for all income sources.
Since then, I started saving every penny. I started thinking of ways to eat without spending too much; I had to cut my spending and start living a life of stress and anxiety while managing to have a full-time study online. I remember those lonely nights when I was in my small studio apartment where the days and nights go by quickly and where you can’t go outside or meet friends. I had whole dozens of eggs and canned food in my refrigerator which I stacked up to save my money. I was behind on my rent and tuition. I had to turn to my Ethiopian community in Seattle to help me with my living situation and work in some voluntary services within the community to earn some income to sustain my living.
However, my engagement in my education was the highest it has ever been. I was able to challenge myself in a way I never taught was possible, read and educate myself not only through my college class but also through investing, flipping, astrology, and playing musical instruments. I maintained my GPA and received Dean’s List for all quarters during the pandemic.
When I thought that it wouldn’t get worse than this, in November 2021 the civil war broke in Ethiopia displacing millions of families from their homes, killing thousands of innocent mothers and children, and on that year only I lost several members of my family members and loved ones. I couldn’t handle the grief alone; I thought my whole world collapsed, and I was forever broken. The war is still ongoing; my life is still collapsed, but I am a fighter, and I will keep fighting till I see the light in this dark world.
I am proud to say I earned my Associate’s degree in science and am starting my new journey at Seattle University. My goal is to achieve a bachelor’s degree from Seattle University to become a professional in my major. From the perspective of my home country, there are very few mechanical engineers who have only developed their skills within Ethiopia. According to their beliefs, people who study in various fields in America are perceived to have the exposure and experience of becoming professionals. The United States of America, as a developed country, has adequate learning facilities that allow its students to produce better results when employed in their respective fields. With this perception back at home, I have always aimed to become one of the greatest engineers that would help in solving numerous engineering problems across the world. I believe my new journey will also guarantee me the best facilities, equipment, and practical lessons that would be imperative for building my career and achieve excellence.
Advice:
For my fellow transfer students, the process of pushing your limits and fighting for change is what defines who you are as a person so embracing your challenges and being grateful for what you have and will have in the future; is the key to success in your journey that awaits.
Goals:
My short-term goal is to receive a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in the hopes to eventually become a global Engineer. I want to strengthen my opportunity to take multiple mechanical engineering courses and certification programs which will help grow my professional career and connections in the outer world. Receiving my bachelor’s opens the door to work for innovative companies that will help me gain more extensive knowledge in my field and practice my skills in my home country Ethiopia. From the perspective of my home country, there are very few mechanical engineers who have only developed their skills within Ethiopia. Pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering will not only impact my special skills but also open a path to several other careers.
On Civility:
Civility is acting or speaking to others with a same amount of fairness and equality, and still doing so with regards to the different relationships that you have with each other. Civility is a huge part of character and plays a part in defining who we are as people and what we are trying to say while doing all that we do. It is important that we all embrace civility because it means being able to live with one another in coexistence rather than to live amongst one another. For us to get along and to be able to develop as a society, we must learn to understand one another.
