There are no barriers to succeeding in America especially for a
young Eritrean immigrant living in Morgan Hill whose family
understands the value what having an education can do.
There are no barriers to succeeding in America especially for a young Eritrean immigrant living in Morgan Hill whose family understands the value what having an education can do.
In spite of coming from a home where both parents speak predominately their native language, Tesfalem Gebremariam is the student technology expert for the El Toro Youth Center.
Repairing and refurbishing computers are second nature to Gebremariam whose technical know-how, intuition and winning personality landed him the position over two years ago.
As part of the Speedy program, Gebremariam was 14 years old when he was assigned to El Toro one summer to help children learn how to type text into the computer in order to keep daily journals. He also helped with arts and crafts and other recreational activities.
The Speedy program was a summer work program for children from low-income families that allowed them to work in a learning environment.
His enthusiasm and ability to learn quickly caught the eyes of the El Toro staff.
“We fell in love with his personality; he is so sincere,” said Lori Escobar, center program director.
Escobar also said that all of the kids, friends and older people really respect him.
“His kindness transcends and he is very nurturing to children. Some parents say that their children mention him in their prayers,” said Escobar.
Gebremariam was taken under the training of David Cramer to learn more about how software works and building and upgrading computers.
Cramer, a San Jose State professor of computer science has been a volunteer at the Center for the past five years.
In between his classes at Gavilan College, Gebremariam works part-time at the Center helping children and adults learn how to use computer software and how to maintain their computers.
Gebremariam graduated from Live Oak High School in June 2003. He said that he plans to follow his older brother, Hiryu’s footsteps and attend San Jose State University to major in electrical engineering.
Learning computers and math come easy for Gebremariam.
“When I was a kid, I was always curious about computers and I liked using them. Learning computers came easy for me, like math,” said Gebremariam.
On Friday nights, you can find Gebremariam at Britton Middle School gymnasium where he organizes 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 basketball tournaments among over 50 participants. He has been coordinating the Friday night jams for the past two years.
Gebremariam was 5 years old when his family migrated to the U.S. in February 1990. This was during the time when the cold governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea resulted in some Eritrean families settling in the United States. The two countries are on the African continent, southwest and across the Red Sea from Saudi Arabia.
The family came to San Jose because they had relatives there who could help them with learning cultural differences and with translations because they could not read or speak English.
Gebremariam has five brothers whose ages range from 14 to 27. One is in Iraq. Hiryu said that considering both parents are not educated, they understand the value of what having an education can do.
“I want Tesfalem to continue his education; if he chooses to become an engineer, then that is his choice. I fully support him in what ever he does as long as he continues and finishes college,” said Tefera, Grebremariam’s father.
Grebremariam‘s culture focuses on family and respect. It is customary for the children to reward their parents for taking care of them by returning the honor when their parents grow old.
Translating for his father, Hiryu said that his family believes in having high expectations, being respectful of others, becoming successful, and contributing to the family and the community.
Hiryu believes that if his parents had the same opportunities, their lives would be different. They were refugees caught between a war and moving from place to place to survive.
Tefera learned to read and write on his own. Although, he and his wife Elsa understand English, they sometimes need the help of their children to translate their native language to English.
Grebremariam’s grandparents, aunts and cousins still live in Eritrea located in northeast Africa between Sudan and Ethiopia.
Grebremariam said that he understands his family’s struggle and takes pride in listening to his father’s advice on continuing his education and staying career focused.
“I feel that I have the ability to do anything,” said Grebremariam.
Escobar said that she enjoys watching Grebremariam grow into a young adult who is succeeding and rising above the hardships his family met as first generation immigrants to America.
