Mekdes Getahun ’17

Major: International Studies 

Year: Sophomore 

Favorite food: Ethopian food 

Ideal date: Staying in, ordering food, and watching scary movies. Or I would love to go to a museum and walk around the monuments for a bit. I’m from Washington, D.C., but I’ve never done that with anyone special! 

Which M&M color best describes your personality: Red because it’s bold and I feel like I’m very outspoken. You can’t miss a red M&M. 

Go-to Starbucks order: Vanilla Tea because it’s the naturally sweetest thing there! 

What you look for in a partner: Loyalty, ambition, and consistency. It’s a simple, but rare mixture to find in someone these days. 

Favorite study spot (on or off campus): McDowell formal lounge because the windows let in a lot of sun and it’s quiet. 

Favorite pastime: Listening to spoken word in bed, going on Tumblr, and listening to music. Anyone who knows me knows I love music and listen to it all the time (even as I sleep). 

What you’re most excited for this year: I am excited for applying and getting internships. I had an internship in high school and I had an amazing time. I am excited to recreate that next semester.

Favorite winter time activity: My favorite winter time activity would have to be staying in and sitting by the fireplace while watching movies and drinking hot chocolate. The movies have to be horror as well. I know it doesn’t go with the whole Christmas scene, but I love scary movies. 

Best advice you’ve received: The best advice I received came from my father: “The rich are not always happy, but the happy can be rich in many ways.”

Why you chose the major that you did: It all started the day I went to Ethiopia. Seeing my family and childhood friends was amazing and it was a very happy time in my life. However, it was also a wake up call to the realities of this world. I was forced to see people of my heritage and culture struggle to eat a meal a day as I went from relative to relative enjoying feasts. Such stratification really made me aware of the disadvantages of the international system. The first step to fixing a cycle is to learn about it. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years: Successful is so cliche, but I really see myself enjoying life and learning along the way. I know I won’t be where I need to be yet, but I do see myself a lot closer to that place. 

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