We are pleased to announce that Yodit Bitsuamlak, an eighth grader from the Club's Center for a New Generation (CNG) program at Belle Haven School in Menlo Park, has been selected as our organization's 2008 Scholar of the Year. The Scholar of the Year Initiative recognizes middle school aged youth enrolled in the Club's CNG program for their leadership, community service and academic achievements.
Extremely committed and driven is the best way to describe 13 year old Yodit. She came to the United States four years ago from Ethiopia, long known as one of the poorest countries in the world, to join her mother who had immigrated several years earlier hoping to earn money to make a better life for her and her family. Her father is currently in Eritrea, which neighbors Ethiopia. At present, the family does not know when they will be reunited.
Yodit did not speak English when she arrived. And her mother was not able to help much because she works long hours and speaks little english. Though scared, Yodit pushed herself to learn English quickly in school by interacting with her peers and her teachers as much as possible. When the Club's CNG program opened at Belle Haven School in 2006, Yodit was one of the first students to sign up. “She has never missed a day”, says Mauricio Marquez, the Club's CNG Program Director at the school. “Today, Yodit speaks English quite well which is amazing”, says Marquez pointing out that while there are programs for Spanish speaking students there aren't any specifically designed for less common languages, like the ethnic African dialect Yodit grew up speaking. “Even more impressive is her 4.0 GPA”, Marquez continued.
When not at CNG or studying, Yodit is still busy. She is actively involved in a range of Club activities as well as community service through YCS (Youth Community Services), which the Club partners with. She also teaches younger children through Sunday school at her church. Admitedly, she is determined to take advantage of every opportunity that America has to offer her. She also makes a conscious effort to set a good example for her peers by working hard and having a good attitude.
When asked what is important to her, Yodit immediately says “family”. At home, she helps her mother with cooking and cleaning. She also helps her mother with completing forms and other documents and helps her younger cousins with their homework. “It may sound like a lot”, she says. “I do these things out of love.”
Yodit hopes to attend Eastside (College Preparatory School) in the fall. From there she plans (not hopes) to attend and graduate from Stanford with honors.
When asked why she is so driven, she says “I have examples all around me of people who didn't go to college, and their opportunities in life are so limited. That is not how I want my life to be”. Yodit understands that working hard while she is young and earning a degree will allow her to find a career later which will allow her to spend more time with her family. She also plans to further travel the world, and experience as many other cultures as possible.
