The dawn breaks in a symphony of hues, as the sky awakens with a golden fuse. The darkness recedes, the light takes hold, and the world awakes, vibrant and bold. 

It could have been a summer evening, or an autumn evening when the stars and fireflies started twinkling. The sound of the night and howling of the refreshing breeze brought a smile on my face. A little girl, unaware of the world that awaited, I only saw my grandmother in my eyes.

I remember my grandmother vividly, even though she’s been gone for years. She was a small, gentle woman with a twinkle in her eyes and a kind smile. Her house was always warm and inviting, and I loved my time and memories there. Upon my dad’s death and my mom’s remarriage, she took on the responsibility of raising me and my brother.

My grandmother was a beautiful soul, full of love and grace. Her gentle touch could soothe even the most troubled hearts. Her eyes sparkled with a light that spoke of a life filled with joy and contentment. Her face was etched with lines of wisdom and experience, but she never looked troubled. Her hands were weathered from a lifetime of hard work, but they were always soft to the touch. When a time came for me and my brother to leave her for the sake of our futures and our growth, she let us go with a pure smile and tears in her eyes. My grandmother was a true embodiment of grace and goodness, and her memory will always live on in my heart. She was a home to us. 

A god’s grace gave me an opportunity to build a new life. It helped me realize that there is a dream for me too, out there. I recently graduated from King’s College in Kathmandu with a major in Business and Digital Marketing. I remember when I was new to this city. At first, it was overwhelming. I felt alone and out of place. I missed my family and friends, and I struggled to make new connections. But I refused to let the challenges defeat me. I threw myself into reality and started exploring new phases of my life. Slowly but surely, I started to feel at home. 

A time for me has come, when I am finally stepping into the real world, an adulthood world. I have also found a job in a small company as an accountant. As I settle into my new role, I begin to realize that graduation was just the beginning of my journey. It was the first step on a long and exciting path that will be filled with successes, failures, and everything in between. I am working toward my dreams and finally they are coming true; it just is surreal.

We are thrilled to have one of our very own Kopila Valley School graduates write this guest blogger series and share alumni stories! Anjali Karki graduated in 2019 and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism along with a journalism career. We can’t wait to see what each of these world-changers does next. Follow us on social media with the series hashtag (#NarrateYourKopilaStory) for more about these young adults and their adventures.