Tales of Courage is a series that speaks about the power of education as a tool for transformative change in the world. They are told through the lens of Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni. From Carnegie Mellon University Africa, here is Yamlak’s story.
Yamlak was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her interest in science led her to pursue a career in Engineering. After school, she would often spend her time on different engineering projects.
After finishing her undergraduate studies, she connected with a Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alumna who had also pursued the same field of study at CMU-Africa through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Inspired, Yamlak made the decision to apply and was selected into the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at CMU-Africa.
“I was scared because it was my first time travelling outside my home country. We were engaged with Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni and students, and that made the transition easy.”
Remember to stay connected to your roots. As Isaac Newton said, ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
Yamlak’s motivating factor has been her desire to go against the odds. Engineering was generally seen as a field for menand social sciences for women. Yamlak was keen to break that barrier and go beyond expectations.
“I define success as being on the right path rather than achieving specific goals. It’s about staying true to your intended direction rather than solely focusing on hitting milestones. While milestones are important, keep moving in the direction you have always wanted to go in. Avoid contentment that is derived exclusively from achieving milestones.”
Yamlak remains passionate about education and sees it as an enabler for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from. She advises young girls who want to do engineering to be intentional about their choices and networks and remain optimistic that there will always be a way. She encourages prospective Mastercard Foundation Scholars to stay connected to their origin.
