My plan is to attend the University of Minnesota and complete a bachelor degree in Health Services Management with a minor in Social Justice, then continue to complete a Masters in Public Health. Ever since I could remember, I have always said I wanted to help people. Even though this aspiration is felt by most first generation students, it has taken me a long time to truly understand how and where I am best able to empower and uplift my community. As Oromo-Americans, my parents have instilled in me the importance of activism and leadership. Being that I am from the Oromo ethnic group which has been oppressed and persecuted by the Ethiopian government for centuries, from a young age I attended protests with my parents as they fought for safety and equity for Oromos that opposed the violent Ethiopian regime. Witnessing this courageous act fuelled my passion to combating social injustices.…show more content… Recalling the lessons my parents taught me, a few classmates and I made our own protest Sophomore year to restore the vote for people who have committed felonies. I made announcements to the community and our peers to help us push this legislation. Students from South High and other Minneapolis public high schools got together to make posters and march towards Martin Luther King park, catching the attention of local news outlets. Due to the magnitude of media coverage, Governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton made a statement in support of our cause to give back the right to vote to those who have paid for their
