Last October, Nima Zangpo, a
teacher from Gonpasingma Lower Secondary School in Pemagatshel, asked me to
write a letter to his students. It was both humbling and a privilege for a farmer
to be asked to write to the students to inspire them. More than what I have in
me to be of any inspiration, I appreciated the teacher’s innovative idea to get
his students motivated through means other than those available at his disposal
in the school. This, to me is how a creative and resourceful teacher thinks out
of box to inspire children to learn so many of life’s lessons.
So, I wrote to his students telling
them to study zealously and give their best as they are in the school to learn
and study. I told them that while result is important, not everybody can excel
in studies because of the limitations we all have in life. I explained to them on
why giving their best is more important than the result itself because that is
the only thing they can possibly do.
I also wrote to them on how competitions in
life are getting stiffer by the day and how, while it is difficult, it will
bring the best out of them. I urged them to recognize their inherent talents
and follow them with passion in life and do things that make them happy.
Success in life doesn’t necessarily mean that someone should be brilliant
academically since not everyone is cut out to be brilliant. I wrote about the more
important goals in life-to be good human beings and responsible citizens for a
happy and meaningful life.
On February 26, 2017, the eve
of Bhutanese New Year Losar, Nima visited me with a priceless present of a book
and six replies his students wrote to me towards the end of last year. I am
privileged to share some of what these young children wrote to me:
A class six student described
about her school and the excitement of the examination that was nearing then.
She apparently was well prepared to be happy about the examination unlike
students elsewhere. She wants to become an engineer some day, perhaps motivated
by a flyover bridge in her school, she wrote about in her letter.
A class four student wanted to
do good things in life and he shared some examples of what those good things
are; like sharing pen and pencils, helping those in needs and showing kindness
to animals. He then shared about his favourite story. It is about monkey and
crocodile and how the clever monkey avoided crocodile’s open mouth by jumping
on its back.
Another class four student
loves to read and write (something wonderful to hear). She says, she has become
a friend of dictionary because she is able to learn many things from it. She
was reading a book called, “No Fighting and No Biting.” She likes Joen and
dislikes Rose and Willy in the book without saying why. She also has a bit of
an advice for me, “to work hard until I succeed in life.” I honestly think I
need to.
One class six student asked me
why I prefer working on my farm rather than in some office. This student wants
me to share stories and poems. Her mate,
a class seven student says that she has a passion for singing and dancing but,
admits she is even better in reading books. She is apparently one of the most
active and determined student in the school because she loves both indoor and
outdoor games as well besides being a position holder in her class.
The final reply was also from
a class topper. Written with a beautiful handwriting, she shared an inspiring
poem titled, “Teach me.” She says she does everything on time and reads at
least one page of a book before going to sleep. She says her family is poor but
lives happily. Something wonderful to hear but not surprising story in rural
villages as happiness is infectiously prevalent more in communities that live
in the fringes of everything.
All these replies have one
thing in common; children said that, they were inspired by my previous letter
and want me to write again. I intend to write back as some have queries that
require answering. Others want me to share articles that I wrote. Perhaps, this
kind of interactions helps them learn something besides serving as a leisurely
break from the never ending classroom learning.
Gyembo Namgyal
Pemagatshel
March 12, 2017
