Of Beetles and Angels

My friend Amy lent me Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard. It's the incredible story of Mawi Asgedom, who fled his home country of Ethiopia during a civil war to a refugee camp in Sudan. His family was able to come to America (specifically, affluent Wheaton, Illinois) where he was teased in school for being poor. The title comes from advice of Mawi's father: "Treat all people--even the most unsightly beetles--as though they were angels sent from heaven." Following this advice does have a positive effect on the outcome of Mawi's life and doing so, combined with very hard work, gets him a full scholarship to Harvard. It is an inspiring story, particularly about what can be accomplished when you work hard and the importance of treating people with respect.



Mawi Asgedom