YOU WILL SEEK AND FIND YOUR DREAM WHEN YOU SEEK WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Shrutee remembers the most asked question during her childhood. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And every time this question was directed at her, she didn’t know what to say. 

Until one day she found her answer: a nurse! 

One of Shrutee’s friends had mentioned that she wished to become a nurse, and just like that, an idea formed into a dream. Shrutee finally had an answer to the frequent question. Eventually Shrutee started to envision herself as a nurse, despite a lack of examples of Nepali career women around her. Nursing wasn’t something that was common or expected in her family because her parents were not educated. Her parents always made sure to tell her that she had to continue her studies because they were not able to, and that they wish to see her highly educated and an earning young woman. 

Shrutee’s father had been working at the bus ticket counter all his life. A job he dedicated his entire life to barely supported them financially. The worries had creased his eyes and his forehead, making him look older than he was. Her mother tried to minimize their costs as a housewife. Shrutee remembers the sadness she felt when her parents were unable to buy her new clothes for Dashain, a widely celebrated festival in Nepal. But they always tried to compensate with what they could afford, maybe meat for supper or chocolates. 

But dreams are never stopped given the circumstances! 

“I had no idea that dreams could hold so much power,” Shrutee confesses. “Every day, going to school and getting nearer to the dream was gratifying. But also attending a school that supports my dreams and my aspirations was even more rewarding.” Shrutee was enrolled in Kopila Valley School when she was seven years old. As a first grader, she fit in with all her new classmates immediately. Her most cherished memories are of spending time with her friends and chatting about life, the future, and their goals. 

But the memory that is closest to Shrutee’s heart is the lessons she learned witnessing different journeys and different lives of her juniors, seniors, and classmates. It was during her school days when she realized the journey called “life” is not a checklist. It is not a two-hour length movie that ends with the protagonist knowing what she actually wants to do. It is a decade-into-decade winding path, where she will have to climb mountains and travel down hills. 

Shrutee realized that she was the fortunate one as many of her friends struggled to find their dreams, many could not afford to dream, and many lost their parents and had no loving adult support.  

“Your friends teach you many things in life. Mine taught me to be humble, grateful, and persistent.” 

Shrutee graduated from Kopila Valley School in the year 2022. She knew what her dream was, but she didn’t know how to pursue it. With the Futures Team’s assistance at Kopila Valley School, she started to explore and consider her options for her higher education. She looked into good colleges in Kathmandu, but her research took her to explore foreign countries. The possibility of pursuing her dream abroad excited her to no bounds. 

“Born in a small town, I had never traveled to any other places, let alone countries. The prospect of the possibility made me driven to at least try. I chose to enroll at an international university because I have a passion for nursing, and I knew that it was the right career for me. I also knew that it could very well be the best decision I would make.” 

BE FAITHFUL IN THE JOURNEY

As a 20-year-old, Shrutee is learning many things about being an adult, about how to behave as an adult even though sometimes she feels she is not ready. 

It wasn’t exactly an easy process to apply for a visa. For someone who’s going through the process for the first time, it can be overwhelming. Shrutee says, “I almost gave up so many times! There was always something wrong with the visa application. I found myself sucking it up and being an adult who doesn’t give up.” 

“As life is happening to me, I gradually feel ready for the next step, but deep down, there is also a fear that keeps on repeating ‘what ifs?’” I’ve learned it’s important to surrender to my fear because it makes me strong. Shrutee pays no mind to the fears in her head because she has faith in the process and will let it lead her journey. “For me, I learned more about accepting when I started to doubt my own decisions. I learned that in every situation, there will always be a plot twist, and that can be something that makes me better. I hope for my upcoming journey to teach me and show me new experiences and different lives.”

Shrutee is currently awaiting her visa to attend school in Finland! She received a scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the esteemed Jamk University Of Applied Science. 

“My parents constantly have fears about me living in a world far away from them. But I have entrusted myself to be faithful in the new journey that I am about to embark on. I hope I have made my mother proud, I hope I have inspired my younger sister to never stop dreaming. Because as I grow older, I have made the point to understand life even more every day. Life is full of surprises and full of opportunities that are best not avoided.” 

We’re excitedly looking forward to the thrilling opportunities and experiences that lie ahead for Shrutee as she begins this new chapter in her journey! 

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.