Arsema was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but spent most of her life in sub-Saharan African countries (Uganda, Kenya, Togo, and Benin), where she became interested in acting as a means of storytelling. She was born to a Nigerian father and an Ethiopian mother. In 2016, Arsema earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University, and in 2018, a Master of Public Health in Health Policy from Yale University.

After graduating, she moved to South Africa, where she auditioned for an agent, which led to her first professional on-screen role. In 2020, she enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London, United Kingdom, where she is working toward a Master of Fine Arts in Professional Acting.