I was born in the capital city of Kathmandu where I gradually learned what freedom in life meant. However, I was brought up in a small conservative patriarchal society. As a teenager, I tried to ignore societal norms and kept away from them but did find solace in nature, my friends and reading novels. I had a strong desire to be a teacher since my childhood. I was inspired by my principal, Mrs. Rachana Karki, who was a nurturing and caring educator. I used to be impressed by her strong personality, her soft voice and her love towards students. When I was in school, I failed in Mathematics for the first time. I felt so hopeless that I spent all day crying. I thought I would not even pass school level examination and I would never be able to achieve my aim in life. My class teacher then motivated me to not lose hope. That was when I realized the role a teacher can play in a student’s life. She helped me regain my confidence. I graduated from the school with distinction. I was sh…

On one side, I had a friend who left for Malaysia to work as a migrant worker at an early age due to his family’s economic condition. So, I was always curious to know the core reason behind having to leave his schooling and go to a Gulf country. On the other, I too wanted to quit school at one point because I was constantly being ill-treated in class. I shared this situation with my sister. She was the one who encouraged me not to leave school over these issues and reminded me of the consequences of quitting school early. Because of her, I communicated my issue in class, pushed myself and completed my high school, even won district speech competitions, and eventually ended up leading few social organizations. Now I am on my way to getting a Master’s degree. If I had left school, I would not have gotten this opportunity. However, the picture of Nepal with bleak hope remains the same for many young people as it did for my friend who left for Malaysia. I have joined TFN to change this…