Getting ready for the two years

March 29, 2016

By Richa Neupane, 2016 Fellow

Rigorous is only one part of the story. The six weeks’ Fellowship training did not just give us 18-hour productive work days, it taught us a lot more. We entered Gokarna Forest Resort not knowing what was in store for us. After 42 days full of pushing ourselves, information intake, reflections, building new bonds and understanding the cause of Teach For Nepal, we made it and came out stronger and more knowledgeable.

It seemed like everything was planned out: our roommates, our groups, our facilities, rules and norms, so that we push our limits and get out of our comfort zones and build new understanding and respect for each other. That way, we will be there for each other when the real hurdles come up during two years of Fellowship in the rural communities of Dhanusha, Lalitpur and Sindhupalchok.

Sometimes it felt like too much. I faced a big challenge when I went to practice teaching. First, I had to unlearn and find out that teaching is not easy and just loving the kids is not going to magically turn them into stellar students. Second, putting my perfect lesson plans and English skills into practice was much tougher that I thought. I could not have done it without the support from our subject trainers, Leadership Development Managers and co-fellows.  In such tough times, I am going to recall what Bijay dai once told me , “It is a good idea to take every challenge as an opportunity.” I will be training myself to always come back to this motto for the upcoming fellowship journey.

Jumping into an environment where people around me had ambitions and feelings similar to mine was more difficult than easy. But once we jumped in, it was also like a cocoon where like-minded people discussed, debated, shared together. Coming out of Gokarna and back to our families was strange. I did not think I would miss all that rigor, pushing myself and sharing of deepest emotions, but I did. Even now, a couple of days post training, I am constantly thinking about the training and following my co-fellows and the rest of the TFN family on social media or on the phone. At the end of our last reflection, Swastika didi said, “You are much more beautiful people than the first day you came in.” I agree. By the end of the training, we had developed deep respect, love and understanding of each other and such is hard to find in the world.

 

 

We were always wondering who we will be placed with and where. It was disclosed at the very end of the institute and this result felt like a progress report after six weeks of training and observations. Being someone who loves to see scores, I anticipated the disclosure of co-fellows and placement school like a little kid. Now that I know where and with whom I will be placed, I am looking forward to keep score of how my co-fellows and I will work in the school and community and what we will be able to achieve there.

Richa Neupane, TFN Fellow 2016, completed her Bachelor of Science in International Studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead, U.S.A. and will be teaching at Indreshwari Higher Secondary School in Melamchi, Sundhupalchowk.

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