Meet Madan, a 2021 graduate of Kopila Valley School. He is a passionate and driven individual who is currently studying Automobile Engineering at a prestigious college. Ever since he was a child, he had a fascination with cars and the way they worked. He spent hours tinkering with toys, taking them apart and putting them back together again, all in an effort to understand their mechanics. Through his hard work and dedication, Madan is well on his way to becoming an accomplished automobile engineer. 

“It’s actually an interesting story…” Madan smiles as I ask him how he found his passion for playing with gadgets and electrical appliances. “From a young age, I was interested in disassembling perfectly-crafted toys and cars to see their inner work and assemble them into my own imaginative process. You see, my dad passed away when I was barely crawling, and no one heard about my mom from abroad. People had already expected the worst. When I came to the Children’s Home at the age of five, I found comfort in playing with cars and moving toys. I had never seen toys this nice before. These seemed magical, as if from another world. I was intrigued. I played and played, and I learned that I was really good with mechanical skills. 

My love for fixing things developed a skill that made me helpful to friends and families around me. For my siblings, I became the younger brother to ask to fix their airpods, speaker, mobile phones, Ipad, laptop. They all told me that I had a knack for fixing things, and indeed I did. During my school years, I always looked forward to the Science Fair day because I could showcase my creativity to the community. Even at this stage, I had already figured out my path to automobile engineering.” 

All of Madan’s hard work paid off; he went to Dang to study Automobile Engineering in Podmaday Public Model Secondary School/College. He soon found that the college met all his academic expectations, and he formed strong bonds with his cohort. He is in his second year, and he is thriving.  “My first day on campus was a whirlwind of activities. I was greeted by a bustling campus, filled with students from all over Nepal. The atmosphere was electric, and I knew that I had made the right choice in attending this college. One of the first things that excited me was the state-of-the-art facilities. I’ve also met a lot of great people here. They all teach me new things in their own way.” 

Automobile Engineering studies aside, Madan fulfills his desire for an active lifestyle through sports, morning jogs, guitar and singing, arts, and anything crafty. 

Looking ahead, Madan has great plans for what’s to come. “Day-to-day, I would like to continue to find ways to enhance my skills. I’m also eager to create something of my own, perhaps something that looks at the world of emotions. My curiosity and creativity inspires me on days when I really need it. And I want to be an example for my fellow juniors who might otherwise think there is no hope in their passion.”

In his journey of exploration, Madan reminds himself of ways Kopila Valley School shaped him into a better version of himself, and he reflects on how the Children’s Home always had his back. “Kopila Valley Children’s Home is also a very symbolic place for me because my childhood began there, and my Kopila family watched me become who I am today.”  

Madan lives by this quote, “Even waste garbage can be recycled into beautiful art, and a bit of effort can bring big change in your life.”

For young ambitious people, he advises you to be more creative and to give a bit more effort in what you’re doing.  “Even trash is worthy of beauty.”