By From Ethiopia to Carroll College, Dagim Degaro has been through a tough journey.
In Ethiopia there is a ethnic civil war between three groups: Tigrayan, Oromo, and the Amhara; displacing millions and killing thousands. It has forced many parents to send their kids to safer countries.
For Degaro, it was the United States.
Degaro is a junior _____ major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
From a young age, Degaro always had a passion for soccer. He left his family and moved to a bigger city in Ethiopia to pursue soccer at the age of fourteen. When he was almost a junior in college, the war broke out and it became clear that Degaro’s life was in danger.
“I wasn’t ready to leave the country. It’s home for me. I have everything there; friends, family, and school. No one ever wants to leave home,” Degaro said.
Degaro’s love of soccer brought him to Montana when the University of Montana soccer coach helped Degaro get a student visa and get accepted into the university.
After a semester, Degaro came to Carroll to join the men’s soccer team. Degaro appreciates the supportive environment from the team and the coaches. He’s close with the new men’s soccer head coach, Austin Shick.
“He always tells me how he always has my back and has helped me in some of my hardest both personal and school related.” said Degaro.
One of the most important factors in Degaro’s decision to come to Carroll was the soccer team and the culture. He felt that the soccer team was different and incorporated a sense of brotherhood between the players, leaving the feeling of a sense of belonging.
“I am having a great time with my teammates and they always help me to push through. Knowing they always have my back is the best thing that could ever happen to me in my college life,” Degaro said.
Degaro describes his experiences since he arrived as truly a blessing.
His kindness and humor have helped him to make friends across campus.
“When Dagim decided to join the soccer team, I was happy,” said Rory Bloy, a senior one of Degaro’s close friends. “It was like getting another brother. Having another person come from the same continent is always a plus. On and off the field Dagim embodies the true meaning of being a Carroll Saint: showing kindness to everyone and being helpful to anyone in need.”
Degaro’s inviting demeanor has led him to make friends off the soccer team as well. Another good friend is football player Tony Collins, who shares a different story on how the two met.
“I first met Dagim when I saw him sitting by himself in the cafeteria,” said Tony Collins. “Not seeing many people of my ethnicity at Carroll, I wanted to introduce myself. What made Dagim so special was how genuine and caring he was. His humor was just an added bonus.”
As the school year comes to an end Degaro reminisces on his first year at Carroll, looking back knowing Carroll has already had an everlasting impact on his life.
After graduating from Carroll College, Degaro hopes to help farmers back in Ethiopia. By minimizing the long supply chain of the coffee market, Degaro hopes to allow farmers to maximize their profits.
“I want to help farmers gain direct access to the market for the long-term, so that in the short-term farmers can sell their products for proper prices,” Degaro said.
Moving to Montana allowed him to get closer to the US farming scene. It’s also helped him get into country music.
Since his arrival at Carroll, Dagim has learned from many people and created many life-long friends. From making unforgettable memories and being able to follow his dream, Carroll will forever have a warm and special place in Degaro’s heart.
“My experience at Carroll so far has been really good,” Degaro said. “I had such a great semester last year and made lifelong friends. Even though there are some ups and downs, people around me help me to push forward and achieve my goals.”
