“ I never give up, whatever my age is… ”
Name : Beweket Ayalew
Gender : Male
DoB : 23.06.1984
City of Birth : Naktshab, Ethiopia
Status : Single
Family : 1 Brother & 1 Sister
Hometown : Lalibela, Ethiopia since 1992
Education : 10th Grade
Job : Student
Religion : Orthodox
Politics : –
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job? When I lived in the countryside, I was a shepherd. I had animals around me all the time…I have always wanted to be a doctor, more precisely a veterinary because I really enjoyed being with animals. Nevertheless, I did not know if I would succeed in this way, because I had to stop school during 10 years, in order to pay for my own expenses (I lost my parents and needed to make both ends meet.)
I had to stop school during 10 years, in order to pay for my own expenses.
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought you would be living by now? I spent my childhood in the countryside, in the north of Ethiopia, near Lalibela. Around the age of 8, I had the opportunity to move to my aunt’s who lived in town – Lalibela (30 000 inhabitants) – in order to go to school. At that time, I thought I’d be living in Lalibela by now – and that’s still the case.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOU PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? A lot of memories come to my mind… As a child, I would say that the most striking events are: playing in the mud, being attacked by a sheep (I still hold the scar of its legs on my face) and falling of a donkey. Whereas during my young adult life, I will never forget the advice that some people gave me «come to the city to go to school! » (there was no education in the countryside, and my sister and brother didn’t go to school).
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? Actually, I have 2 in mind: when I hold flowers and presents to my family for christmas (that’s a tradition in my country) and when I spend time in the jungle with my sheep and goats.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am really proud of being educated. I decided to renew with school after a 10 years break, even if I was old to do so (I am in the 10th grade and I’m turning 30YO). I also take time to read, learn and study during my free time whereas most of my friends don’t. That’s not the easy path I took, because I also need to have side jobs such as shoe cleaner and carpenter meanwhile studying.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I used to live without asking myself any questions. I had no stress at all, I had fun and I was barely looking for a girlfriend. I would say I had few ambition.
TODAY – Life is becoming more serious, I am looking for what really matters: passing the exams in order to get a good job, founding a family and settling down in my own house.
TODAY – Life is becoming more serious, I am looking for what really matters: passing the exams in order to get a good job, founding a family and settling down in my own house.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO? In my opinion, I have reached the « adult » stage… I know myself better, I want to get a job, a family (wife and 3 kids) and a house. Morever I think that when you get older, people really consider you… You earn more respect and they listen to you.
I have reached the « adult » stage… I know myself better
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? Definitely young. When I think about my friends, they are older than me, so I still feel as a young man.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? I wish I could be a « traditional doctor » but that is not acceptable in our society. And I wish I would be a famous marathon runner.
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? I hope I’ll be living in Addis Abeba, capital city of Ethiopia, living with my family in my house and that I’ll practice medicine.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years? I deeply hope that Ethiopia will be a developed country with higher standards of living. I think the population of the country will grow a lot in the next years. I am afraid there will be more religious wars between orthodoxes and protestants, which may unfortunately reducing the number of orthodoxes.
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am worried that given the increasing population in Ethiopia, there will not be enough food supplies for everybody.
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? As I said, I merely wish for… a job, family and house.
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? Even if I know it is impossible, I dream of crossing the ocean walking on foot.
