School/Institution: Nashville State Community College

Major/minor: Health Information Managment

Giving back: I currently serve as Vice President of the National Society of Leadership and Success at Nashville State Community College in Nashville, Tenessee. My role is assisting the President with all duties necessary to successfully run the Chapter. I have participated in the Food Drive at Voltee Church of Christ hosted by National Society of Leadership and Success.

Five-Year Aspirational Plan: In five years, I endeavor to have my bachelor degree in Health Information Management. In addition to my degree I want to develop my leadership skills and receive the National Excellence in Leadership Award from National Society of Leadership and Success Organization. After my leadership skills are proven, I intend to be a leading motivational speaker who is determined to bring positive change in women's lives. I hope to bring lasting positive changes to less fortunate African sisters. Above all, I would like to see myself being an icon for African women whom everybody won't hesitate to turn their face for help.



Country you are representing: Ethiopia

Platform: I want to help abused African women develop and enhance their self esteem and leadership skills.

UGPulse: If Miss Africa USA had a cooking segment, what would you cook to represent your country and walk through the process of cooking involved in preparing your chosen dish?

Sofia Bushen: If Miss Africa USA had a cooking segment, I would cook Ethiopian chicken stew or "Doro Watt". Doro Watt is one of the most popular dishes among Ethiopian traditional foods. It is mostly served during holidays, special occasions, and events. This chicken stew has its own unique flavor that makes it a popular dish around the globe.

Doro Watt is made up of a huge amount of red onions, traditionally prepared spices, butter, ginger roots, and hard boiled eggs. In preparing the dish, the first thing done is the washing of the chicken thoroughly with salt and lemon juice. The next step is to marinate the chicken. After the marinating is complete, chopped red onions are mixed with traditionally prepared spices and butter - "the special sauce." Together these ingredients are to simmer for about thirty-minutes. In the meantime, and with a knife, the chicken is to be punctured multiple times in order to allow flavors to seep through, making the chicken flavored inside-out. Afterwards, the chicken is cooked for about another thirty minutes with "the special sauce" prepared from red onions, butter, and spices. Following all this is the addition of hard boiled eggs into the mixture of chicken and "the special sauce" - the stew. Finally, the Doro Watt is poured on top of the pancake-like flat bread called "injera," and served.



UGPulse: If you watched the new incredible movie, Avatar, what moved you most in the movie and what positive or negative message did you take home from watching this movie?

Sofia Bushen: I have watched Avatar. It is a movie where naive nature of forest life and the authority of humans on nature prevails. What really moves me the most is the determination and dedication of Neytiri. What she has done to save her tribe and Jake, whom she falls in love with, helped me realize the capacity of a woman's strength when it comes to protecting her family.

The positive message that I took from the movie and what matters most is the amount of trust, confidence, and courage that was held in hearts of the characters and not the heavy weapon that is carried to make one feel superior. Astoundingly, although the people from earth had superior technology to destroy those who were less technologically advanced, they were still unable to subdue those is the forest.



The negative message that I've derived from Avatar is one that is widely pondered about throughout the world - the development of technology and the threat that it harbors (i.e. nuclear weapons, etc). The fear is that all this technology may perhaps be more harmful (destructive) if we don't take appropriate precautions. In watching Avatar, this issue has resonated.

UGPulse: What do men say is the sexiest thing about you?

Sofia Bushen: The sexiest thing men say about me is my eyes and, my confidence, and even my compassion. I feel that I have to stay confident even through the hardest of times that I may go through in life. And my compassion, to take new risks and attain my goal no matter how rough and time consuming the way to my success might be.

UGPulse: After what he did to Rihanna, would you buy another Chris Brown song or CD? What do you think about the whole situation?

Sofia Bushen: First of all, I strongly condemn what Chris did to Rihanna. Nonetheless, I focus more on his accomplishments and the important role that he has played in the music industry. I believe everybody deserves respect and recognition for the things that they have worked hard for and their contributions. Therefore, I would definitely buy his CD. His music doesn't reflect his personal life. Besides, refusing to buy his music doesn't necessarily have anything to do with resolving his personal issues with Rihanna. Chris has asked for forgiveness. I feel we have to give people a chance to work on their mistakes.