BlackboardNahom Tewolde
As a transfer student, Tewolde would be the first to tell you his path to where he is today was nothing short of a perfect storm of events. Not a typical transfer student, Tewolde took time off before pursuing an engineering degree after earning his A.A. degree from Valencia Community College in Orlando to start a career in in the insurance industry in customer service.
"Several things happened," said Tewolde. "I came to see I was in a dead-end job. My younger brother had just graduated with a degree in computer engineering and Obama was elected president. To see an African-American get to the highest position of the land was inspiring and it seemed that everything my teachers ever told be was true; that if you put your best foot forward you can get anywhere. So I quit my job and applied to Florida State and was accepted."
Tewolde admits that it was a struggle to get back into the routine of classes and studying his first semester. But he focused on what he needed to do and was able to make and maintain good grades. "I'd like to say I did it by myself, but I know I didn't," confides Tewolde. "I was invited to join a study group and I don't think I would be where I am if it wasn't for this group of students who accepted me. At the end of the semester when I'd start feeling burned out they would drag me up. It's not that I'm failing any classes and I have a good GPA but there are days when you don't want to get up and you get that call, "Where are you buddy?" So you say to yourself, "Get it together!"
Tewolde can't speak highly enough about one of his major professors in electrical engineering. Dr. Leonard Tung, a professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, was a great help to Tewolde on his return to school.
"I've come to find out after having him for a couple of classes that Dr. Tung truly cares about us," says Tewolde. "He takes the time to get to know his students and how they think so he can help them when they mess up. He is honest in his grading, explaining where we go wrong, because he expects us to work hard. He works just as hard, pushing us because he wants us to succeed."
While Tewolde was at Valencia Community College he was a little bit of a partier and he admits he didn't work as hard as he should have to get good grades. Tewolde says, "I know the difference between where I was then and where I find myself now. I think being a little more mature definitely helps and I can understand where I was when I was younger now after some experience in the work force," remarks Tewolde. "At first I was a little upset that I had stopped my education to pursue a career but I think that time was well spent allowing me to take care of the things I needed to and I know what I'm here for now."
A lot of people have been very inspirational in Tewolde's life with the things that they have said to him over the years and the example they have given him. Tewolde's father always used to tell him growing up that no one is born a doctor or an engineer. That if you want something you have to work for it.
"My dad was always good at trying to keep me honest," Tewolde confides. "I wish I could've worked harder when I was in high school and when I was at Valencia [Community College] but it's like my cousin says, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish."
It's not that Tewolde didn't find the work rewarding in the customer service field. "In the beginning when it was new and I was learning, I really enjoyed my job," remarks Tewolde. "I would empathize with the clients and try to help them usually above and beyond the customer service matrix guidelines. But I eventually came to find that a lot of the people who called customer service about their insurance plans didn't really want to know, for example, why the insurance company was saying 'No' to their claims. I realized that a lot of people just hadn't read their contracts. At the end it became very frustrating work."
"I feel like I will be able to contribute a lot with an engineering degree," says Tewolde. If I don't find anything in the field that makes me happy, I plan on teaching. If it's at a high school that's fine. I want to help America get back to its higher academic scoring standings in math and science. And if I can help in any way to make that happen, I'll feel like I've done something."
"I feel there's a different path for me. I don't know what it is yet but sometimes you just have to step out in faith. And that's something I've come to depend on, along with hard work. I do know I don't want to stop with an undergraduate degree."
Tewolde's hard work and tenacity has its rewards. One of which is that he was recently selected to receive the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) 2013 Student Leadership – Undergraduate Level Award.
