At 16 years old, Tamam Waritu entered his freshman year at Jefferson High School with what most American schools would consider a fifth-grade education level. He spoke no English. He was experiencing culture shock. And when he moved to the United States from Ethiopia in 1999, he lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Northeast Portland with his parents and 11 siblings.
Given the opportunity’
At 16 years old, Tamam Waritu entered his freshman year at Jefferson High School with what most American schools would consider a fifth-grade education level. He spoke no English. He was experiencing culture shock. And when he moved to the United States from Ethiopia in 1999, he lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Northeast Portland with his parents and 11 siblings.
More than eight years later, Waritu, 24, is preparing to speak in front of the other 4,737 graduates and around 100 family members and friends at Portland State’s commencement ceremony at the Rose Garden on June 14.
“The only reason I am here is that I was given the opportunity,” Waritu said.
Finding an opportunityWaritu, a double major in international studies and Black Studies, says his opportunity began when he moved to the United States from a small Ethiopian town called Oromo, allowing him and the rest of his family to join his father, Wako Jibicho, in Portland.
When he arrived, Waritu was placed in the ninth grade because of his age, despite the fact that he had dropped out of school as a fifth-grader when his father moved to the United States more than three years earlier.
He was overwhelmed, not understanding his teacher’s instructions and feeling reluctant to interact with his classmates simply because he had no idea what to do or say.
Waritu recalls a biology teacher approaching him during his freshman year at Jefferson to ask him why he had not turned in any of his assignments.
“It wasn’t because I was kind of not serious about my education, but it was more of not knowing what to do because I didn’t speak English and I knew basically nothing,” Waritu said.
Taking two years of ESL classes in high school and striving to close the sizeable gap in education level between him and his classmates, Waritu beat the odds and graduated from Jefferson in spring of 2003. Leading up to graduation, Waritu began surveying his options to further his education. He desired a college education; however, one of his high school teachers thought that wish might not be possible.
“Not in a negative or bad way, there was a teacher that sort of doubted that I could make it to a university,” Waritu said. “Not that I wasn’t capable of accomplishing academically, but because of the English classes that I did not have.”
A first for the familyIn light of the doubt his teacher expressed, Waritu applied to Portland State. But he was not admitted immediately, because he failed to meet the language requirement. Instead, he had to take and pass Writing 115 during his first term in order to continue attending the university.
Much to his surprise and delight, Waritu easily passed the class, granting him the right to continue his education at Portland State.
“It means a lot to me, especially being the first person in my family to be admitted to a university. It was a big deal,” Waritu said. “[Portland State] gave me this opportunity for a reason.”
After his future at Portland State was secure, Waritu shifted his focus to becoming a part of the campus community.
Among his extracurricular activities are an internship at OHSU; a mentorship with GEAR UP, which focuses on exposing low-income middle and high school students to higher education; treasurer of the NAACP at PSU; student senator for ASPSU; and a student employee in the Office of Admissions.
Linda Etter, office manager of New Student Programs at Portland State, worked with Waritu in the Office of Admissions over the past year. Recently, Etter nominated Waritu for the university’s Presidential Award, an award he ultimately won.
“I’ve been interacting with college students for the past 25 years, and I cannot remember encountering a student who is more passionate about education, and about helping other people achieve their goals,” Etter said in her letter of recommendation.
Founding the foundationOne of Waritu’s proudest achievements is helping found the Gadab Foundation, a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to students near his hometown of Oromo.
Waritu serves as the president of the Gadab Foundation, which has assisted 24 students since it was established two years ago.
He said that he strongly believes the foundation is one of the primary reasons he was given the opportunity to further his education, because he is supposed to pass on his passion for education to others.
“He is going to make a tremendous difference in the lives of young people,” said Etter, who began to cry when she spoke about Waritu.
A surprise for his familyWaritu has yet to reveal to his family and friends that he is the commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony. Most of them, he said, will be shocked and surprised when they find out he will be telling his story in front of thousands of people.
“We were very impressed with his message and how he reflected on how his experience at Portland State affected him,” Ebru Korbek, coordinator for commencement, said of the Graduation Program Board.
As for being nervous speaking in front of so many people, Waritu said he will be speaking from the heart, which will alleviate any nervousness.
“I believe I have a unique story, and I have to let my voice be heard,” Waritu said. “At least, if I can motivate one student at commencement with my message, then I think it’s worth it, and my job is done.”
