Home: Rautahat, Kathmandu, Bagmati

Education: B.Devs, National College, Kathmandu

I grew up in a poor and barely literate family in an under developed village. Initially, I attended a government school with poor infrastructure and low educational standards. I was fortunate that my brother and my family encouraged me to come to Kathmandu for my education. I came to Kathmandu when I was almost 10. At that time I couldn’t even speak in Nepali and school was a huge challenge as I was finding it hard to even communicate. I was placed in the hostel of Kathmandu International School for two years. I worked really hard to learn both English and Nepali. After this time, I was able to speak and write both languages. I joined Rato Bangala School, an institution at the other end of the spectrum from my first educational experiences, where I remained through my A-levels. I would say that I had a very diverse educational experience as I studied in the worst as well as the best schools of Nepal.

Becoming a Teach For Nepal Fellow is the greatest achievement of my life so far. I came to know about TFN via my brother. I went through the Facebook page as well as the official website, and immediately thought– This is it. I have to get this Fellowship. I have read somewhere that “True happiness lies in self-giving” and I really believe in this; it’s what inspired me to apply to Teach For Nepal.

When I first said I had applied to TFN, people’s reactions varied. Some said that as a woman, I should focuson my master’s degree and then get married. Some people said, leave the hope about being a fellow at TFN because it’s really tough – but I said hope is the only thing that keeps people going.

I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to say I’d been accepted. I was thrilled, and my brother was really happy for me. If “a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step,” I am taking my first step to bridge the educational inequality between private and government schools. I am very much excited about going to a classroom, not as a student but as a teacher. I’m experiencing a simultaneous mixture of eagerness, excitement, and nervousness–including living away from my brother. I think I will be an example for children that nothing is impossible when you have strong will, dedication and the passion to strive for a goal in life. I will guide my students to transform their lives.