Crenati Foundation Supporting International Students Scholarship

I looked at her bare bones laid out in a glass box and wondered: "How did we get here?" The day I visited the National Museum of Ethiopia and saw Lucy, a fossil of an early bipedal Hominin species, was the day I became infatuated with Evolution and Genetics. My country, Ethiopia, is embellished with a beautiful history. The first humans migrated out of Ethiopia and its neighboring areas and evolved into what we are today. I like to see myself as one of those early humans. Those that stepped out of what they knew to explore new worlds. They discovered and tamed the elements and helped the generations after them. By leaving the comfort of familiarity and seeking better knowledge, I hope to benefit my country in endless ways. But sometimes, I have so many goals, it’s hard to keep track. My biggest goal in life is to start a research institute in Ethiopia, dedicated to genetic research. I want to use the knowledge of genetics to help in agriculture, as my country heavily depends on agriculture for its economy. We would develop crops that are specialized to withstand harsh conditions, while maintaining their nutritional value. That would tackle the problem of famine. I also want my research institute to use genetics to help solve problems such as diseases using gene therapy or gene transfer. I also want to dedicate part of my institute to learning more about our evolutionary history. I want our own people to discover their ancestors, to decode the messages and see how far we’ve come. I think that it would be incredibly motivating for my fellow citizens to see how far we humans have come. I would create so many job opportunities in the process. Another goal of mine that is close to my heart, which isn’t really related to my major, is saving the horses in my country. Ethiopians sometimes uses horse-driven carriages for transporting goods along short distances. Sadly, when the horses become sick or old, the owners just leave them on the side of the road, and they end up being hit by cars or eaten by hyenas in the night. I’ve always been deeply disturbed by this sight, so it has always been a dream of mine to start an animal shelter. I would start with horses, but I would also eventually help save other animals as well. We could revive these horses and maybe develop a horse-racing industry, or they could be helpful in agriculture and transport. Or they could just be healthy and safe and beautiful. The US higher education system is multifaceted, so I would be able to learn more about animal activism and entrepreneurship, while pursuing a career in research. I have so many plans for my life, and I want to make sure everything I do benefits at least one person. Transitioning to college in a foreign country can be overwhelming, but with foundations like Crenati financially investing in me, and with my goals set in mind, I would be able to stand on my own two feet- just as my bipedal ancestor Lucy had- and I’d walk through life, not sure whether to marvel at the diversity of the people around me, or at how much we’re all genetically alike. Homo Hablils had stone tools, Homo erectus had fire, and I will hopefully have Crenati. And when, a couple of years down the road, I look back at my life and what I've accomplished and ask myself, "How did we get here?" , I truly hope that Crenati will be part of the answer.