Root Gebremariam gets involved in her community
May 23—WORTHINGTON — Worthington High School senior Root Gebremariam participates in all kinds of school activities, including multiple sports and musical ensembles, but most people would probably be surprised to find out which is her favorite.
"I love SADD. A lot of my friends are in it, and Dynamic (507), too. I've been in it the longest," Gebremariam said, describing the after-school program offered through the Nobles County Integration Collaborative. "(Dynamic) is so fun. I've been in it since middle school too, it's been a fun thing to grow into."
Dynamic is all about civic engagement, cultural awareness, academic success and college and career readiness. SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), too, has a focus on empowering students to make positive decisions and changes in the world.
And Gebremariam clearly enjoys getting involved. She plays the violin with the school orchestra, and alto saxophone with the band. She sings soprano in the choir and runs cross country as well as track, which is her favorite sport. She's the president of the National Honor Society at WHS and of the STEM Club, too.
She will graduate from Worthington High School this week, but like a few other students in her class, she already earned her associate degree from Minnesota West Community and Technical College through the post-secondary enrollment options program.
Minnesota West held its commencement ceremony earlier this month, meaning Gebremariam technically earned her two-year college degree before her high school diploma, saving a significant amount of money and time by taking college classes.
"It gives me an insight into what my next four years are going to be like," she said. "It teaches you to plan and be dependent on (yourself)."
College professors aren't like high school teachers, who constantly remind students to complete their work, she explained, and while deadlines are less frequent, that can be misleading, as the work still needs to get done and time needs to be managed wisely.
Her favorite teacher at Minnesota West has been Anita Gaul, whose class on early western civilizations Gebremariam especially appreciated due to the instructor's energetic presentation and interactive, discussion-oriented teaching style. At WHS, she particularly appreciates orchestra instructor Melanie Loy.
"I can tell she loves being around us, and we love being around her," Gebremariam said, noting her teaching skill really shines through.
Gebremariam has not yet decided what occupation to pursue, but she intends to earn a bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. She is interested in becoming a radiologist, and is beginning her studies with a biology major, though she may transition to a different one later.
"I change my mind all the time," she said.
She also hopes to minor in political science, and get involved in the community in the Twin Cities as well.
The interest in radiology came after Gebremariam attended a radiology camp in Luverne, and found she really enjoyed learning about X-rays and diagnosing the many things that can go wrong inside the human body.
Gebremariam, who lives in Worthington with her parents, Etemanchi Bahiru and Mebrahtu Zike, has two brothers, Dagmawi Gebremariam, who works in town, and Nahom Gebremariam, a sixth-grader at Worthington Middle School.
She is also looking forward to visiting Addis Ababa in Ethiopia this summer, to see her uncles and cousins.
Gebremariam's advice to young people entering high school is to try to find a good balance between hanging out with friends and doing homework.
"Soak it up. Freshman year is the freshest and most into everything you're going to be," she said.
