Marhaba, (Hello)! My name is Makeda. I’m 20 years old and a student at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I study International Relations and Arabic. That means I learn about different countries, people, and cultures.
I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but now live in Columbus, Ohio. Growing up, I loved reading (I read a lot!), playing tennis, listening to music, and going on walks. In high school, I started learning how to play the piano, and now I’m trying to teach myself again!
Because a lot of people in my family lived in the Middle East and spoke Arabic, I grew up hearing the language. Over time, I fell in love with the way it sounds and the deep meanings it carries. When I decided on a study abroad location, I knew I wanted to live somewhere where I could hear and speak Arabic every day. So, I chose to study in Amman, Jordan for the next three months!
One day, I hope to work in human rights, where I want to help those whose voices aren’t always heard and make sure everyone is respected and treated fairly.
I am so excited to travel to Jordan and share this adventure with you!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
