Tashi Yudon Mahindra 2016-18

Dear Donors at UWCSEA,

Honestly speaking, it is true that I always wanted to go out of Ladakh but probably for all the wrong reasons. What constantly came to my mind though, was that this childhood daydream was not possible. I had explored the world in books but never left our little kingdom in the clouds. Today only with your support I have seen other pieces of this world! I’ve learned, listened and explored more in five months than what I did in the past sixteen years.

I feel like I’m actually learning for the first time what life is all about – and it’s not about scoring the highest marks in exams! (Though difficult I’m still trying hard to..). Frankly, it makes me so upset sometimes to think why we don’t have such an education system in Ladakh as I have experience in UWC. At MUWCI I found much more in every field than what I expect – the way our faculty teach us students with great passion, the way we are made to feel responsible for our learning, the way amazing students from all over inspire each other so all motivation comes from within. I am always learning new things from new people around the campus and tried my best to do things that challenge me every time. Whether it’s Project Week travels to Gujarat or difficult activities like Modern Dance or new languages like Chinese, I see that when I leave my comfort zone I sometimes catch feelings that I must have only dreamt of.

I am very grateful for your contribution which changed my life. I can see the difference in me – I can see the difference while I am talking to people, the kind of thoughts that I am expressing, the kind of vision that I am holding. Thank you for making me understand what my life can be about. I will do my best to do good things with this opportunity.

With love,

Tashi (MUWCI, 2016 – 2018)

November 2016

thanks for your diligence effort in having patience in such a naughty students like me .. I am sure u had never came over such a students like me ever in your life .. but i promised it will worth in future ...it been a months since i stepped in this exhilirating corner in india in MUWCI ...which have a great impact on me with in this 2-3 months .. the first thing that i felt after one or two weeks in muwci is that i really feel like '' i was taught with what is pen and papers but i was never taught with how to hold them and how to write words and sentences of my own voice which will make a differences , i was taught with Apple Bat and Cat but i realised that i was unaware of what this words actually mean ...i read them with my little mouth but not with my little mind ,, i feel like what am learning is not only for me its for every one. Any way this is what i feel,every time when i open my eyes with millions of dreams ,, sometime when i go out of campus in the pune city with some list to buy something ,,i really donot feel like buying anything i feel like i should give my whole money to this poor people who came infront of me beeging with their bowl ,,,and these people are specially poor childerns deprived of education , even this point is too far for them ,, they hardly get even a slice of bread .... i gave my pocket money to one of a family near by road .they have small 6 to 7 childrens ,,, it light up their face ,but at the same time i knw that the smile on their face will no longer remain and vanished after one or two meal .I have never been out of ladakh and i have never seen such people in large number ..and i t really make me think a lots when i asked my parents for more stuff ...i basically never share this feeling with anyone because i know how people will react to my thought ,, it might be funny for some one or some one might think that this is something that every one is talking about.I guess every one has talked about this and also seen ,, but i am sure no one has feel it ..If someone had really feel it then there would not be such people in india ... specially in india .. i donot knw about the world ... i may be very small to talk of all this but this a part of what i really feel every time when i open my eyes and is a part of my feeling ... .. and one thing i really donot understand why people donot pick up childrens from street and make thier life bright also specially who have tooo much money in their bank , my parents restricted my pocket money because they know that i gave my little money to those childerns ,, and i left with nothing to hear except their scolding .. I feel my eyes with tear when i saw all this childrens and when i have nothing to gave them ,, and i cry within myselves and made them a promise that i will serve u all after some years but plzz till then make yourselves .... And this promise really scare me that whether i will really be able tO serve those people or not ?,,But i am sure with your support i will be able to this ... I WILL GET FULL SATISFACTION FROM MY LIFE WHEN I WILL DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE IN NEED ,.... LOVE YOU UWSSEA FOR U R SUPPORT ,,,.... FOR LEETING US TO WALK ON THIS EARTH WITH OUR OWN FEET .........LOVE YOUUUUU.

Dear Donors at UWCSEA,

Honestly speaking, it is true that I always wanted to go out of Ladakh but probably for all the wrong reasons. What constantly came to my mind though, was that this childhood daydream was not possible. I had explored the world in books but never left our little kingdom in the clouds. Today only with your support I have seen other pieces of this world! I’ve learned, listened and explored more in five months than what I did in the past sixteen years.

I feel like I’m actually learning for the first time what life is all about – and it’s not about scoring the highest marks in exams! (Though difficult I’m still trying hard to..). Frankly, it makes me so upset sometimes to think why we don’t have such an education system in Ladakh as I have experience in UWC. At MUWCI I found much more in every field than what I expect – the way our faculty teach us students with great passion, the way we are made to feel responsible for our learning, the way amazing students from all over inspire each other so all motivation comes from within. I am always learning new things from new people around the campus and tried my best to do things that challenge me every time. Whether it’s Project Week travels to Gujarat or difficult activities like Modern Dance or new languages like Chinese, I see that when I leave my comfort zone I sometimes catch feelings that I must have only dreamt of.

I am very grateful for your contribution which changed my life. I can see the difference in me – I can see the difference while I am talking to people, the kind of thoughts that I am expressing, the kind of vision that I am holding. Thank you for making me understand what my life can be about. I will do my best to do good things with this opportunity.

With love,

Tashi (MUWCI, 2016 – 2018)

Tashi was selected to receive the 2016 Mahindra scholarship. She comes from the remote Zanskar Valley