Tuscon, AZ
University of Arizona
Economics, Spring 2020
Josh was born in Ethiopia. His family was very poor but he learned at an early age to triumph
over obstacles. He loved sports, especially running, the national sport. He was very competitive
although he was unable to join a private club. When Josh was eight years old his father died of
HIV which had ravaged many in his African nation. Josh was left an orphan with no means of
support so he took to the streets where he begged and scavenged for food in dumpsters in order
to survive. At the age of ten he was hit by a train and was almost left to die when he lost both
legs above the knee and his right arm below the elbow. After four months in a run-down
hospital he was blessed when a family from Washington State adopted him and moved him to
the USA. He was soon introduced to wheelchair basketball by the ParaSports organization in
Spokane, WA. After years of training, eventually, he excelled and was honored to represent the
USA in the 2016 Paralympics where he won a silver medal. An opportunity to play for the
University of Arizona and pursue a degree in economics followed.