I was the first person to successfully pass SLC in first division from my village in Khotang district. After completing my schooling from a public school, I moved to Sunsari in Dharan in search of a quality education in science stream with my family. After studying in public school all my life and moving to private school was a massive change for me. Students were more disciplined, teachers were more involved in students learning and moreover, all the subjects were in the English language. My experience as a student there made me realize that if provided with the same level of teacher’s commitment and style, even students in public school will be able to receive a quality education. During my Bachelors in Chemistry in Central Campus of Technology Hattisar, I decided to teach in Dharan Adarsha Secondary School. There I was able to share my passion for science with the students so that they are able to compete with students from the private school. I have always loved sharing…

I vividly remember my initial school days in Kathmandu. The time, when our landlord used to harass me and my elder sister due to father’s irresponsible behaviours. My father never fulfilled his responsibility towards us. But after scoring distinction marks in SLC examinations, I left no chance to take tuition classes to my landlord’s daughters and grandchildren. My sister is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Nagoya Keizai University of Japan. Similarly, I am here to step forward my life on the path for making our country prosperous by choosing to teach children. The journey has not been easy so far. My mother worked whole day and night in the Middle-East for four years as a domestic worker so that her two daughters would receive quality education. There were times when we had to go to bed with half- empty stomach but that didn’t stop us from making sure my mother’s investment in our education.Though my mother faced many challenges in her life, she never …

My parents were brought up in Kathmandu and faced various challenges, the city of Kathmandu brings when you are not well educated but they were both able to find a job. My dad worked in media while my mother put her tailoring skills into practice by opening a tailoring shop. Growing up, I was able to secure good grades in my classes and participated fairly often in extracurricular activities. My mom always believed that women should learn to do household chores over education while my father thought differently. When we educate women, we empower them. The skills and knowledge they gain through education not only help them become independent but also an ability to contribute to their family financially. My parents provided me with tools of empowerment and as a Fellow I want to play a positive role in the lives of my students and the community I will be living during my Fellowship.

My father started his life with nothing. He moved to a new place where he did not know anyone and opened a small pharmacy. People in the area always came to him for help and he never hesitated to help them leading to the closure of the pharmacy. He was so invested in making sure that people were provided with amenities in the village, he decided to join politics and dedicated his life for the betterment of the people for more than five decades. It makes me feel connected to this universe and inspires me to serve people. While growing up, I was always surrounded by educators. Teachers used to rent a room in our house while they were serving in public school near us. I could experience the impact they would bring and the respect they got. During school, I was a bright student. I used to top my classes and always participated in extracurricular activities. The things that I hated about my school days were the corporal punishment and the traditional learning method of memorizing inste…

Growing up, I always felt that money could solve all problems. But as I grew older, I became wiser and realized money, which is a solution to problems actually is the root of many problems. Working as an engineer, I faced numerous moral dilemmas but I always made sure to live by my codes of ethics. As an engineer in a country like Nepal, we are confronted every day with ethical challenges that are presented to us. So, as a Teach For Nepal Fellow, I want to work in a ground level to solve problems for all engineers by teaching ethics to the young to ensure that they are ethical and act morally when they are adults.

It is difficult to think about helping your country and your people when you have spent your childhood living in an unstable financial condition. It makes you focussed on yourself and your family. After university my plan was the same as that of all Nepalis, both educated and uneducated: to go to a foreign country so that I can live a good life and improve my family’s financial condition. But my thoughts changed after the 2072 earthquake in which lots of people died and many people including some of my friends went to help those who were suffering. I realised that while I had been trying to get away, other people were working to make things better in Nepal. It was the first time that I had thought beyond my own life. I decided, I want to do something for my own country. I learned of more and more organisations working to uplift conditions and my interest in social work grew. Finally I realised that the satisfaction of working for others is like no other. That is why I applied for Te…

I was born in a lower-middle-class family as a girl child. I was very shy and afraid to speak as a child and I always felt being left out and neglected in my community and in school too. I used to think that I will not love or care for anyone except my mom and dad as nobody else loved me or cared for me. I stopped socializing and tried my best to be self-dependent and self-sufficient. But as I grew up, I understood nobody gives you anything unless you have the courage to ask for it or fight for it. I understood the power of being vocal. So slowly I started speaking, expressing and being loud enough so that everyone could hear me. One of my biggest turning point in life was joining Masters in Buddhism. During two years of Master, our class had to organize a program and I designed it in such a way that even the ones who do not have the courage to come in front and speak get a chance to speak. After completing my Master, I got chance to teach and to my surprise, almost everybody li…

When I was very young, we lived in a house with my extended family. But my uncle had a habit of physically abusing me and my siblings so my parents chose to move to a small room in an old house. My father had to leave the valley to earn money and we were scorned by our rich relatives who believed that people who live in poverty are being punished for being sinners. I developed an anxiety and was constantly fearful. One day, my mother introduced me to the story of Robinson Crusoe who survived all on his own on that island. I thought, if he can do that so can I, and with that inspiration I fought my anxiety Only with research did I discover how ghastly the condition of education is in Nepal. I volunteered with Canopy Nepal and learned about the problems that children in public schools go through. I found their problems of poverty similar to mine. The darkness in their eyes was familiar to me. Maybe I cannot bring about change by myself but I can definitely contribute to it. I believe t…

I was born and brought up in Hetauda. I was the most pampered of my siblings and my family especially my grandmother made sure that all my demands were fulfilled. I got my education from a private school until fourth grade and then my parents moved me to a community school because of the Maoist insurgency. Moving to a community school from a private was a whole new experience. I was weak in Nepali language and most of the education in the community school was in Nepali, for which, I had to work hard. For my higher education, I went to a top college of Hetauda. There I was able to achieve distinction which helped me secure a scholarship. After completing my higher education, I helped my parents in their business as an accountant. Working with my parents, I gained valuable knowledge of business which one would never find in a book. Along with working for them I also pursued my bachelors in Information Management. All my life, I have always wanted to help children, and Teach For Ne…

Growing up my parents faced many challenges, financially, to raise me and my two brothers. They worked day and night to make sure we received a quality education. Even though I studied in a public school, I was able to secure grades I needed to study science after my SLC. I moved to Kathmandu from Gorkha to pursue my higher education because of the lack of science colleges. I actually had to convince my parents to let me move to Kathmandu because the community we lived in influenced my parents that a parents job is to just send girls to school till SLC because after marriage they go and live with some other family. Life in Kathmandu was very difficult – everything was different and expensive compared to Gorkha but that did not stop me from pursuing my education. After graduating from +2 from National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), I joined National Star High School as a science teacher and during my time there, I learned that most students who attended school were …