In 2016, Afomeya Mekonnen successfully completed her undergraduate studies at Gallaudet University as a biology major. She is also a certified pharmacy technician with a dream to become a pharmacist. As a person who is hard of hearing, Afomeya communicates well both ways, using American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and orally. But during several college internships, she encountered supervisors and co-workers who discouraged her from becoming a pharmacist since they could not believe that she would be able to communicate effectively with customers.
When Afomeya decided to apply for the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) Rising Leaders academy, which she found out about through a rising leader Alum, multiple doors started to open for her. Through the USBLN Career Link Mentoring Program, she was matched with a mentor from a major pharmaceutical company. Through weekly Skype meetings with her mentor, Afomeya refined her resume, practiced job interviewing skills, learned how to productively do online job searches and planned the best path to reach her ultimate goal of becoming a pharmacist. But most of all, she received encouragement and confidence.
Afomeya had received an interview with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The interview went well and the interviewer provided excellent information on career building. EPA offered Afomeya a summer internship, but since she was graduating from college in May, she decided to apply for the USBLN Rising Leadership Academy (RLA) instead. It was at the RLA that Afomeya was interviewed by representatives from CVS Health and offered a Pharmacy Tech position in Washington, D.C. In October 2016, at the age of 24, Afomeya started her first job.
Afomeya states that she loves her job and her customers, and is passionate about her work. She successfully performs all the Pharm Tech job functions, including those for drop off, production and pick-up. Her co-workers are naturally supportive of each other and understand and appreciate her communication methods. They simply speak a little more slowly when talking to her to make sure she can understand them.
She is continuing her journey toward her ultimate career goal – becoming a pharmacist. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University (MSU) while continuing to work at CVS Health. Her Expected graduation date is May 2019. Once she completes her Masters, She plans to directly continue Pharmacy School.
Afomeya would like to share her journey with other young people with disabilities. She urges them to apply for programs and jobs that they want and not to be deterred by other people’s low expectations or unconscious biases. Her advice to employers is to approach job applicants with disabilities as all the employers at the Rising Leadership Academy, including CVS Health, did – they saw beyond stigma and focused on talent and not on disability.