New CPS grad Yonas Gebregziabher aims to be ‘the doctor that many Ethiopians wish they had’ – Chicago Sun-Times 16:12

New CPS grad Yonas Gebregziabher aims to be ‘the doctor that many Ethiopians wish they had’

After moving from Ethiopia in 2014, he learned English through study and watching movies. Now, he’s graduated at the top of his Amundsen High School class.

By Noah Johnson

Jun 12, 2020, 3:10pm CDT

Yonas Gebregziabher, who graduated Thursday from Amundsen High School, has a full-ride scholarship to a top school — Bowdoin University in Maine.
Yonas Gebregziabher, who graduated Thursday from Amundsen High School, has a full-ride scholarship to a top school — Bowdoin University in Maine.

When Yonas Gebregziabher moved from Ethiopia to the United States in 2014, the only English he knew was his name.

Now, he has graduated at the top of his class from Amundsen High School on the North Side, will be attending college on a full scholarship and has his sights set on being a doctor.

When he and his mom Axumawit Gebregziabher arrived in Illinois, Yonas was in seventh grade. They moved here because she thought the United States would offer him more educational opportunities.

But adjusting wasn’t easy when he started out at Horace Greeley Elementary.

“I just felt lost at all times,” Yonas says, “because I couldn’t communicate effectively to even understand what was being taught. I was also frustrated because I had to redo assignments plenty of times until I got it correctly.”

To get past the language barrier, he supplemented his school work with Khan Academy language courses. He also watch movies like “Shrek” and “The Lion King” to help learn how to pronounce words.

For practice, he’d have conversations in English with his cousin and schoomate Hayelom.

At Amundsen, 5110 N. Damen Ave., Yonas, who graduated Thursday, immersed himself in American culture through his classes, sports and other activities.