Meet Our Khelen Scholars
Tashi is attending Gansu Normal University for Nationalities and majoring in Applied Linguistics.
INTERVIEW
Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m an outgoing person and I like making friends with all kinds of people. Even though I’m a girl, most of my friends are boys because I’m really into sports. And I also like debating; you will see me wherever there is a debate going on!
What is the biggest surprise for you about college life?
Being completely responsible for managing a lot of free time. So I’ve developed a habit of reading, discussing about authors, and writing. I also spend a lot of time at the bookstore near my school.
What’s your favorite class?
I would say Ideological and Moral Cultivation and Legal Basis. I really like the professor’s teaching style, and I also think that the course really helps improve our personal morals.
What would you be doing now if you did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education?
I may have gotten married and might be at home right now doing chores. In my village, children are supposed to do whatever their parents ask of them. So I’m really grateful that both my parents and Machik encouraged me to continue studying.
What do you want to accomplish after college?
I want to go to graduate school.
I’m an outgoing person and I like making friends with all kinds of people. Even though I’m a girl, most of my friends are boys because I’m really into sports. And I also like debating; you will see me wherever there is a debate going on!
What is the biggest surprise for you about college life?
Being completely responsible for managing a lot of free time. So I’ve developed a habit of reading, discussing about authors, and writing. I also spend a lot of time at the bookstore near my school.
What’s your favorite class?
I would say Ideological and Moral Cultivation and Legal Basis. I really like the professor’s teaching style, and I also think that the course really helps improve our personal morals.
What would you be doing now if you did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education?
I may have gotten married and might be at home right now doing chores. In my village, children are supposed to do whatever their parents ask of them. So I’m really grateful that both my parents and Machik encouraged me to continue studying.
What do you want to accomplish after college?
I want to go to graduate school.
Sonam studies at Qinghai Normal University in Xining in the northeast corner of Tibet where he majors in Tibetan literature. In January, he and two other students voluntarily set up a language school during the winter break in Chungba, teaching Tibetan, English and Chinese to 50 younger students and to illiterate adults in the community.
INTERVIEW
Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m pretty open-minded and do not have a hard time accepting new things and experiences. I like studying as well.
What is the biggest surprise of college life?
Studying Tibetan literature systematically, I’ve realized how much more I need to learn.
What is your favorite class in college?
Tibetan grammar because it is very practical.
What do you want to accomplish during your time in school?
I hope my Tibetan and English both improve a great deal!
What would you be doing now if you did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education?
As the oldest son, I might already be married and become a breadwinner.
I’m pretty open-minded and do not have a hard time accepting new things and experiences. I like studying as well.
What is the biggest surprise of college life?
Studying Tibetan literature systematically, I’ve realized how much more I need to learn.
What is your favorite class in college?
Tibetan grammar because it is very practical.
What do you want to accomplish during your time in school?
I hope my Tibetan and English both improve a great deal!
What would you be doing now if you did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education?
As the oldest son, I might already be married and become a breadwinner.
Tsering Dorje attends Northwestern University for Nationalities and majors in Tibetan literature.
INTERVIEW
Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m an extrovert and a very positive person who likes helping people.
What is the biggest surprise of college life?
There are so many other ethnic minorities in my school and I have developed really close friendships with many of them. I’ve also been elected class president!
What is the biggest challenge so far in college?
The challenge I face constantly is public speaking. It is not only about not being shy. But you also have to develop the ability to think clearly and logically on your feet.
What is your favorite class in college?
Tibetan class, I would say. There are so many new things that I’m learning so I’m always excited about Tibetan class.
What do you want to accomplish during your time in college?
I hope I can acquire as much knowledge as possible and at the same time participate in all sorts of activities outside the classroom.
What would your be doing now if you did not have opportunity to pursue higher education?
I might have followed my parents’ instruction and found a job and gotten married.
Have you joined any school clubs?
Yes, I’ve joined the Sports club.
I’m an extrovert and a very positive person who likes helping people.
What is the biggest surprise of college life?
There are so many other ethnic minorities in my school and I have developed really close friendships with many of them. I’ve also been elected class president!
What is the biggest challenge so far in college?
The challenge I face constantly is public speaking. It is not only about not being shy. But you also have to develop the ability to think clearly and logically on your feet.
What is your favorite class in college?
Tibetan class, I would say. There are so many new things that I’m learning so I’m always excited about Tibetan class.
What do you want to accomplish during your time in college?
I hope I can acquire as much knowledge as possible and at the same time participate in all sorts of activities outside the classroom.
What would your be doing now if you did not have opportunity to pursue higher education?
I might have followed my parents’ instruction and found a job and gotten married.
Have you joined any school clubs?
Yes, I’ve joined the Sports club.
Tsering Lhamo attends Southwest University for Nationalities and majors in Public Administration.
INTERVIEW
How many people are in your family?
There are 11 people in my family. All are farmers and I am the only one going to school. Our income comes from selling caterpillar fungus and Matsutake.
At what age did you begin your school? Do you still have memory of that?
I went to school at the age of eleven and before that I was being a herdsman for my uncle. I remember every school break I would have to work for family and too busy to even write my homework. And when I got back to school, I felt really happy because I knew I would be able to learn a lot new things.
What is education to you?
If I had not gone to school, I would probably have been a nomad now. In general, many children are unable to attend school in Tibet but because Chungba is especially economically disadvantaged with poor educational conditions, I am more aware of the importance of education and more motivated in my study.
What do you want to do with your education?
I really want to be a teacher to help others. Plus, I could keep learning in that way. I would like to teach back in Batang or Chungba. The former because a lot of Chungba students go to high school in Batang. The latter, needless to say, it’s my school. To become a good teacher, I need to work and study very hard.
How is your college life so far?
College is an amazing place with lots of things to do. You can choose from a variety of elective courses. We had a huge library and there are many books there. Students come from many different places and we have a lot that we can share. But the dangerous thing is that one has a lot of free time, and if you don’t plan well, you would waste your time very easily.
There are 11 people in my family. All are farmers and I am the only one going to school. Our income comes from selling caterpillar fungus and Matsutake.
At what age did you begin your school? Do you still have memory of that?
I went to school at the age of eleven and before that I was being a herdsman for my uncle. I remember every school break I would have to work for family and too busy to even write my homework. And when I got back to school, I felt really happy because I knew I would be able to learn a lot new things.
What is education to you?
If I had not gone to school, I would probably have been a nomad now. In general, many children are unable to attend school in Tibet but because Chungba is especially economically disadvantaged with poor educational conditions, I am more aware of the importance of education and more motivated in my study.
What do you want to do with your education?
I really want to be a teacher to help others. Plus, I could keep learning in that way. I would like to teach back in Batang or Chungba. The former because a lot of Chungba students go to high school in Batang. The latter, needless to say, it’s my school. To become a good teacher, I need to work and study very hard.
How is your college life so far?
College is an amazing place with lots of things to do. You can choose from a variety of elective courses. We had a huge library and there are many books there. Students come from many different places and we have a lot that we can share. But the dangerous thing is that one has a lot of free time, and if you don’t plan well, you would waste your time very easily.