Being successful in life is the desire of all of us residing over this lovely planet. At each and every stage of our wide life span, it is our inbuilt desire to achieve our set goals and proceed forward consistently towards more massive success. It has also always been the same case for Roshan.  

He was born in a remote village of Nepal, Kalikot. Unlike most of the parents in his village, his father was fortunate enough to receive education ‘till 8th grade in a government school, which was considered one of the biggest achievements.Therefore, they were aware of the importance of education. His father was a primary school teacher while his mother stayed home, tending to animals and preparing meals. When Roshan was old enough for school, his parents sent him to the city to stay with relatives and receive the best kind of education. 

Eventually, he was enrolled in a local government school. But his favorite school days, where he started to fall in love with books and the knowledge they held, were when he got into Kopila Valley School. “As I set foot in the compound of the school, I was greeted by a wave of cultural diversity and bustling energy.  Knowing that I was now a part of this vibrant and diverse community, it felt like I found my place.” As he dove into his studies, he revealed his true skills. He ran for the position of School Vice President, and he won! “I remember, as the newly elected Student Vice President, my journey took an exhilarating turn. With a heart full of enthusiasm and a mind brimming with ideas, I embraced the opportunity to learn and serve my fellow students. As I immersed myself in a whirlwind of responsibilities, I became a familiar face on the compound, someone whom students could approach with their thoughts, suggestions, and grievances. I did not know I had it in me to be a leader.” He reminisces. 

Roshan says he loved his English class. “Reading novels, learning new vocabularies, singing ‘There was a tree’ instead of ‘Twinkle twinkle’, I learned so much.”

He says he also loved being a member of the Ambassador Club. “I loved sharing about the beauty of the campus as it is a blend of modern infrastructure and natural surroundings, providing the perfect environment for learning and reflection. I always looked forward to sharing everything about the school.”   

Roshan graduated from Kopila Valley in the year 2020. As many had already figured out what they wanted to do after school, he was yet uncertain. He returned to his childhood home, and even though the COVID-19 lockdowns were terrible in the city, he found simple pleasures in the more peaceful village life, as there were no mediums playing out news of people dying, scared, and uncertain. 

One odd day, he overheard some conversations his family were having. The village had decided to form a club and build an activity field for children’s play, community gatherings, soccer, and volleyball. Every day, Roshan would go with his father to watch the ground being scraped and remodeled. He was fascinated by the engineers. The villagers whispered about the amazing  work they were doing, and how important it was. He instantly got a whiff of his future plan and realized that he wanted to do a RESPECTED work. He wanted to become an engineer. 

Thus began his new journey. 

As soon as the lockdown ended, Roshan returned to Surkhet and decided to meet a couple of renowned engineers and get some useful insights. The more engineers he met, the more he fell in love with the idea of one day becoming one of them. 

Even though he knew what he wanted to pursue, there were some close people in his life that told him maybe he should opt for BBA (Bachelor’s of business administration.) as Engineering might be beyond his capability. However, Roshan knew and understood that you do not have to know the rest of the journey to start doing what you can. No one is going to believe in you like you do. So, he set off to Kathmandu to find a prominent and prestigious Engineering College. 

This great young man who believed in himself is now in his second year of Engineering College and he already has plans for the future. “I know my parents and my villagers would love to see a road that can take them to hospitals. For their happiness, I want to contribute my skills and build them the sturdiest road.” It is very much important for Roshan to heed the lessons of complications in life to celebrate the joy of success.

He also takes time to relax. For fun, he plays football, watches movies, reads newspapers, and listens to parliamentary meetings.  

Nearly 14 years after he entered school, Roshan is teaching everyone that each day is another opportunity for you to live your life a little less afraid, to choose yourself, to listen to your own heart and not  what the world says. Roshan is a visionary, an idealist. 

Against all odds and in the face of discouragement from others and reoccurring complications, he stood tall. He is embarking on a new chapter, ready to leave an indelible mark on the world as an engineer, a testament to the power of resilience and the fulfillment of one’s true calling. 

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.