I was born in a small town Quiha nearly ten KM away from Mekelle, the capital of Tigrai regional state, Ethiopia. As majority of Ethiopians, I grew up in an average family where, my father was a bit aggressive which he believes in authoritarian parenting style. As I am the last child in the family, I feel like I have got all the family attention. I used to feel the summer season was the only time of happiness for me when I got my friends free of school.
After I have finished my high school education in my small town, I joined Addis Ababa University on a competitive base. I was placed to the law school but still for unknown reason (even to myself); I changed to school of psychology. Eventually I came to learn, it was right decision to forgo law given to my personality and learning style. Not to exaggerate, I was an excellent student and able to graduate with very great distinction grade. In 2009 I have joined Mekelle University with the academic rank of GA-I through direct assignment of the Ministry of Education.
To shorten the long way, in 2010 I received sandwich program from Bahr Dar (Ethio) and Verja(Belgium) in Masters of higher education. It was blessing program for me to rejuvenate the Ethiopian and foreigners’ curriculum and teaching philosophy. I feel I have strong achievement motive and will dare always to learn. In 2013, I joined Addis Ababa University for another master’s degree in a field which I love it to die, i.e social work. I still found myself fresh to learn and ready to flourish. My thesis work looked at “the role of community care coalition in providing psychosocial support to HIV/AIDS infected and affected People” was really an icebreaker for me to learn research skills in humanitarian endeavors. As science of psychology researches are predominantly quantitative, where there is limited room to see the lived experiences of oppressed people, my MSW thesis work helped me to see the other side of conducting research through getting deep in to the unheard voices of vulnerable people.
I am currently attending my PhD program in anthropology another science of humanity. I feel I am still novice and in my early academic career. It is marvelous opportunity for me to join the ECLIPSE family across the globe and I believe I will grow and flourish under this versatile team. So, as novice practitioner and researcher, together with the help of like-minded senior researchers in the team; I think I can contribute to the wider policy discourse on how to promote the quality of life of vulnerable group in particular, to the psychological and social wellbeing of the community in general. Learning and working under the #WeAre ECLIPSE is not only a privilege but also an adventure of career development. Yes indeed #WeAreECLIPSE, a family of innovation and symbol of collaboration.