Nahom Regassa

I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My favorite place in Addis has got to be this huge open-air market called Merkato. It’s one of those places where you never know what you’re going to stumble into or what you’re going to find; it’s just so chaotic, it’s beautiful. I speak Amharic and English.

I want to study Computer Science/Engineering at Penn State because doing so would allow me to make a positive difference in my country and Africa. There is a lot that needs to improve in our continent, and I feel that the first step towards achieving that goal lies in our better understanding of Computer technology.

I am a reading addict. It’s hard to describe in words what I enjoy about reading, so I’m just going to write down one of my favorite quotes and let you figure it out for yourself.

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter–to–morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further… And one fine mourning…”

I believe one of the advantages of growing up in Ethiopia or in Africa is the abundant amount of motivation you get just by simply looking at the lives around you. I’m motivated by all the obstacles I had to overcome to get to where I am today. I’m motivated by the desire to give back to my community. I’m motivated by the confidence the Botstiber Foundation and Penn State have shown in giving me this scholarship.

I’ll always be grateful that the Botstiber Foundation gave me this opportunity to educate myself when no one was willing to do it for me. It has been a rigorous academic program and I appreciate the support system from fellow Botstiber Scholars.