Opportunity

Ethiopia haw always held a special place in my own imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more than a trip to France, England and America combined. I felt I would be visiting my own genesis, unearthing the roots of what made me an African." -Nelson Mandela

On my fourth night in Ethiopia my birth mother, Teruwork, who is called Teru (tooroo), put a tape in the stereo and my emotions quickly became paralyzed.

(I remember as a child my American family would tape-record me learning English to send to my Ethiopian family, along with pictures and videos)

A loud voice from the stereo echoed in the small living room as I heard a tiny little voice talking about the food she was eating for breakfast. There are four distinct voices: first, I heard my brother Mohammed, then I heard my momma and daddy (Charlie & Cheryl) and finally, my six year old voice started to talk about biscuits. I heard my mom teach me how to say, in English, “I love my mommy, I love my sister” as I mimic, “I love my mommy, I love my sister.” I then ramble off something in Amharic.

I couldn’t help but think wow, that fragile child had no control over her innocent life. It amazes me the conditions we subject the children of the world to suffer, not only do they not deserve it but they have no say in the matter. Hundreds of million children are not as fortunate as I am to have two mothers that strive to give me the best.

At first, I sat there and listened to the tape completely numb to the strangeness of hearing myself, but after trying desperately to fight it, my eyes began to water. As I starred at Teru, I looked at my 18 year old sister Tesfu and said to my mom, “Tesfu is a great student, healthy and happy, why did you let me go?” A question I have always thought about, Teru simply answered. “You would not be alive today if I had let you stay.” I had no response, I just simply held my sister and she began to cry.

I will never know if what my mothers did was the best decision; however, I do know that they gave me one of the greatest gifts one can provide their child; opportunity. In the past two years, I have made some of my finest achievements, and I owe it to my family and friends who continue to uplift me and keep me grounded at the same time. I am eternally grateful. Recently, a friend put into eloquent words the gift I am still learning how to unwrap… thank you

“What you have is opportunity, opportunity to advance not only yourself but the condition of your family. What was a seed planted in the soil of America at six years old has been nurtured by your mother and the American experience into a beautiful young woman who has not lost the essence of a continent, a country, a people, a family.

Through the sacrifice of lost time, lost years, lost moments, you are provided with the opportunity that so many on the African continent lack, that so many in this country waste. So long as you take that opportunity and you utilize it, there is no shame to be felt for you have taken responsibility.” -Abeeb