Arsema Mulugeta Assefa is one of just a few Ethiopian students who make up the larger international student body at Florida Tech.
Some highlights from Arsema's interview follow.
On why she wanted to come to the U.S. and how she plans to return to Ethiopia:
"For me personally, it was to do with the amount of freedom, and I was able to pursue what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be here. But most people leave (Ethiopia) and don't come back, and that's not my intention. I actually want to go back, make a difference in my country."
On Ethiopian culture being a part of who she is:
"I believe that wherever I am, I will grow as a person, but at the same time I won't lose my cultural roots."
On the closeness of the Ethiopian community on campus, and why her circle of friends has expanded to include many other nationalities:
"I heard we're like 10 Ethiopians here, so we can't help but be together. At the same time, I've met a lot of people from other countries, outside of the U.S. It's a transition for them too, so we share a lot in common."
