Perseverance: Mihreteab Mekonen
Perseverance
Before their paths crossed ours, they were already on an incredible journey. The alumni and participants at Blue Road Academy have countless stories. Stories full of strength, perseverance and hope, stories that deserve to be told.
We start with the story of
Mihreteab Mekonen, a chemistry teacher who took great risks in order to pursue freedom and autonomy in the UK.
The streets of Asmara, capital city of Eritrea
It took a tremendous amount of determination and strength, but Mihreteab Mekonen is finally on the verge of landing his first job in the Salesforce ecosystem. The journey that led him here was long and difficult, but Mihreteab always kept looking forward.
A decade of teaching
Back in Eritrea, Mihreteab found himself in the world of academia. For over a decade, he worked as a chemistry teacher at several high schools all over the country. He had a talent for chemistry and was even promoted to head teacher at one point of his career. After ten years of teaching, it was time for a career change. It also turned out to be the time to flee the country. Eritrea has one of the most oppressive regimes in the world and like many others, Mihreteab risked it all to leave.
The humble high school teacher was not afraid to take this risk. It took him multiple attempts to flee the country and in 2017, he finally managed to leave Eritrea behind. The regime has had a tight grip on its population for a long time and Mihreteab had to be in the national service as a soldier as well. At the time, he was still unaware there was an incredibly tough journey ahead. A journey that would take him four years to finally reach the United Kingdom. For extended periods of time, he had to sacrifice his freedom and autonomy in order to be safe in the future. Thus, Mihreteab had to walk, for days on end, almost starving to death. He also had to travel in overcrowded cars, packed with people; he had to cross a border in a small plastic boat, and; he had to hide inside trucks, trying not to be caught. These were some of the most difficult times of his life. On his way to the UK, he risked his life many times. However, even through the hardest times, going back was not an option.
In the UK, his fight for freedom was not over yet and he had to overcome a new set of obstacles. Simultaneously, he had to deal with a significant culture shock, being separated from his wife, handling an ongoing battle for the right paperwork and managing an unstable housing situation. Luckily, a positive change eventually came to his life.
Student on the right path
His wife, who participated in the Blue Road Academy program earlier, turned out to be a great source of inspiration for him. She introduced Mihreteab to the world of Salesforce and motivated him to study as hard as he could. It was not easy for him, since he had very little experience with IT. Back in the days when he was studying at the University of Asmara, he had ambitions to study computer science. However, he was allocated to the chemistry department. When he joined the Blue Road Academy program in London in the Winter of 2022, his technical skills were limited. He had to study hard and frequently go over the materials together with his wife. She ultimately brought him up to speed. "The moment I finished the exam, I saw I passed it. I couldn't believe my eyes! I was like, did I really get it?" He surprised himself, his wife, and his peers at Blue Road, but his devotion to Salesforce paid off.
After a number of rough years, he finally feels he is going in the right direction. “Blue Road Academy brought me on the right path. I can’t imagine where I would be without it. Salesforce is the plan, Salesforce is the goal.” He is currently far along in the hiring process at Capgemini. When he participated in the London program, he and his peers had the chance to build a good relationship with the company. On a number of occasions, they had the chance to visit Capgemini and see how Salesforce is applied in real life. Mihreteab was selected out of nine candidates to start working with them early 2023.
Looking ahead, he feels hopeful and optimistic. He is currently taking his first steps in the Salesforce ecosystem, and this time, it will be a journey he is eager to embark on. In the next few years, he envisions himself being a Senior Salesforce Solution Consultant. A position that will allow him to build a life together with his wife. Reunited, for good.
