Melkamo: Writing My Way to Success

Youth in School

Hard to imagine that an 11th grade student living in Israel would not know how to read and write, isn't it? Well, that was me. I immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia with my family and when I got here, I guess I just kind of got lost in the system. I never formally learned how to read or write. I realized that this was a major problem for me in my life and I tried to pick up reading skills from my friends. But as a result, I could only read my friends' handwriting. I couldn't read real letters in books, on television, or on a computer.

At some point, I realized that if I didn't learn how to read before I finished high school, I'd be in a really bad situation after. I knew I would have zero chances of getting into university and employment opportunities for me would be limited to low-wage jobs like being a janitor. I wanted more for myself than that. My teachers also did. The ENP advisor in my school realized that I needed extra help. She arranged for me to get extra help in Hebrew, in addition to the hours offered in ENP's SPACE Program.

My SPACE teachers work with me side by side in all of my studies, making sure that I understand everything. Not only that, but my teachers also arranged for the school to provide me with extra help. I'm spending a lot of time in school now, and it is really hard work. But I know that it will pay off. Everyone is working so hard to help me so I must work hard to help myself. Since I started receiving extra scholastic assistance, my reading skills have really improved. I am so grateful to ENP and to my teachers. Maybe one day I will be able to teach students who need extra help and my own story will help motivate them. If I can do it, anyone can.