Meet Asmita, a Kopila Valley graduate who currently lives in her hometown, teaching her sister and brother the better aspects of education and getting inspired by her mom to pursue further education. 

Hi, Asmita! What have you been doing after graduating?

I graduated from Kopila Valley in the summer of 2018, and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do post-graduation. I went to Chitwan and Kathmandu for university entrance exams. I had never left my town before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. But I was overwhelmed by the population in Kathmandu and different cultures in Chitwan. After pondering and researching for a while, I decided to stay in my hometown of Surkhet and continue my further studies so that I could stay near my mother and my siblings. Therefore, I chose BBA (Bachelor’s of Business Administration) to study in Mid-West University. I took Management in +2, and I thought taking BBA would be a strong suit for me.  In fact, it is. I love dreaming about being an entrepreneur one day. 

Tell me about your experience studying at Kopila Valley School.

Honestly, sometimes it bums me to not see schools or colleges in Nepal like Kopila Valley. I had the freedom to speak my mind, and teachers were like friends. My greatest achievement is knowing everyone’s different backgrounds and learning to accept them for who they are.  I grew a lot, learned a lot, and above all, I found my purpose, which is to not stop learning and getting education. My mom might also be a contributing factor because she is not educated, but it dawned on me that I should never stop learning, for education has great power to change my fate and my mother’s. 

What does being a woman in business mean to you?

I am a student studying business. I have yet to open my own entrepreneurial venture. And honestly, if I were to tell you from experience, I wouldn’t be able to. Historically, women have faced numerous challenges in the business world, including discrimination, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for advancement. Despite progress in recent years, gender disparities continue to exist, particularly in high levels of leadership and in certain industries. 

Ultimately, being a woman in business should mean having the same opportunities, respect, and recognition as any other individual, regardless of gender. It should mean being judged based on my merits, abilities, and contributions. 

What do you hope to do differently in business as a female? 

I want to be an example to girls in my community, and I want to show their parents that their daughters are more than capable -– of learning business, being a doctor, or accomplishing anything they choose to do. 

What do you find yourself doing in your spare time these days?

When I can, I spend my time with my brother and sister. They didn’t get a chance to study in a school like Kopila Valley, and I try to teach them what a proper education should be. I love spending time with them. 

Knowing what you know about your life and your future, what would you say to your 15-year-old self?

“Be stronger than your excuses.” I would tell her to not let go of your dreams with excuses and accusations of fate. 

What inspires you in life?

My mom for sure! Even though she is not educated and hasn’t seen any parts of the world, she tries to evolve with the times and learn the world’s new ways. She pushes me beyond my boundaries, and I love her for that.   

What’s next for you?

I want to see parts of the world. After I am done with my BBA, I want to bring my ideas into motion and get started to build a progressive path for my dream.

Finally, is there anything you want to say to younger generations with aspirations and ambitions?

I would say, ‘DON’T EVER GIVE UP!’ Once you give up, your dreams will crash into the draining pit of the world, forever gone. If you don’t give up on your dreams and goals, one day you will find yourself succeeding in them. 

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.