This June, Yeabsira fulfilled that childhood vow, graduating from Addis Ababa University with a degree in Psychology and a GPA of 3.5.
Living with a physical disability, Yeabsira’s academic journey has not been without its challenges. But her resolve, paired with relentless support from her mother, has pushed her forward. Teachers speak highly of her discipline and work ethic, describing her as a student who approaches her studies with quiet tenacity.
“I’ve never known her to back down from a challenge,” said one of her lecturers. “She works twice as hard, not because she’s asked to, but because she believes she must.”
Over the past four years, her mother has walked the journey with her, physically, emotionally, and mentally, acting as guide, cheerleader, and caretaker.
“If we hide our children at home, we hurt them even more,” her mother said. “We must make sacrifices and give them the opportunity to dream.”
Yeabsira's story is not one of charity or pity, it is one of perseverance, family, and the simple power of keeping one’s word. In a city where access remains unequal for many with disabilities, her graduation is a quiet act of triumph, both deeply personal and widely symbolic.