After the Earthquake, a Place to Begin Again
Min Bahadur Sherpa, in his own words
Tashi delek, everyone. It's me, Min Bahadur Sherpa.
Firstly, I'm really grateful to have joined Padmai Ga-Tshal Choiling School. I started schooling here in 2017, at the age of seven. I used to live in Sangmani village in Sindhupalchowk district, where there wasn't any good road. One of the most important things is, there weren't any schools. So to get to school we had to walk for hours.
Unfortunately, one tragic event hit my whole life. It was the year 2072 in the Nepali calendar, when earthquakes filled the whole of Nepal with tears, blood and broken houses. One of them was mine. My whole family lost the only place we called home. We lost all our property at that time, and we were struggling just to make ends meet and keep food on the table. By hook and by crook, we moved to Kathmandu. We lived in temporary tents while my parents searched for jobs and schooling options, which eventually led me to this school.
In 2017 my parents found out about this free of charge, highly disciplined school and enrolled me here. We were overjoyed. The school was established to give quality education, along with religious activities, to children whose families cannot afford to pay for it. Its aim then and now is to teach well, teach the religious subjects, and make the future of poor students bright. Compared with other schools, this one suited poor families and it was very good — so I decided to study here instead of somewhere else. Enrolling here erased my family's struggles and motivated me to change our financial circumstances.
It has now been ten years since I enrolled. Over these past ten years my hard work has paid off, and I have grown to love problem-solving in science, maths, accounting and computing, as well as Sambota, our local subject. The teachers here treat us like their own children, and the supportive atmosphere makes this school feel like home. They help me shape my dreams by giving us all kinds of practical knowledge.
My goal is simple. I just want to become successful and put myself in a position to give back to others in need, because I know firsthand what it feels like to live through poverty.
My time here has been so much more than just academics — it gave my family hope when we needed it most. The lessons, the support and the sense of community I received here shaped who I am today. Driven by the hardships I once faced, I am determined to work hard, build a successful future, and extend a helping hand to those who are struggling just as we once were.
At last, I want to deliver heartfelt thanks to this school, to our founder His Holiness Khenpo Karchoe Rinpoche, and to all the teachers and my friends, for giving me a good and worthwhile education.
