From tiring work at home to becoming a student at one of the national institutes of education, I sometimes find myself thinking about how much my life has changed. Sometimes, I look back and wonder how I came this far. From being a child who was once learning to walk to becoming a young man trying to keep up with the world, the memories of my past come back to me in many different ways. I remember the difficult days, the struggles, the moments when I questioned my faith, and even the times when I felt that perhaps luck had played a small part in my journey. Maybe without a little luck, I might not have made it this far. However, I believe that my desire to do better and become someone I could be proud of was the biggest reason I never gave up.
From a very young age, I was taught to value education. I still remember telling myself that I would always hold on to that value. It was not an easy journey. There were many sleepless nights, failed attempts, and even rejected applications. But somehow, after all those struggles, I finally found myself at the Paro College of Education, a place that has nurtured and continues to nurture many Bhutanese educators and intellectuals. The college is close to the town and lies at the foot of the gentle slopes of the Nangkha Valley. It is my first time here, and I must say that the view from my room is something I cannot get tired of. From there, I can see the distant mountain ranges standing tall and beautiful. The paddy fields around the college are wide, green, and peaceful.
During winter, the mountains become even more beautiful as their peaks are covered with snow. Sometimes, when the reddish evening light passes through the dark clouds, the whole sky looks as if it is on fire. There is something magical about that view. I never expected that the very place where I came to pursue my education would become a place I would slowly fall in love with. Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe it was meant to be. If perfection had a place on earth, perhaps this would be close to it. My first night at the college was also an experience I will remember. Everyone seemed educated and knowledgeable, which made me feel that I was among people who shared the same interest in learning. At the same time, they were friendly and welcoming.
I was sitting alone in the dining hall when someone approached me. We sat together and exchanged a few words. Although our conversation was short, I learned a lot from him. He spoke with such confidence and ease and treated me as if we had known each other for years. At that moment, I felt that perhaps we really were becoming a family here. Later, I found out that he was one of the interim councillors and was two years senior to me. I was impressed by the way he carried himself and interacted with others. I thought to myself that if the college could help shape someone like him, then perhaps I had made the right decision by coming here. In many ways, he became someone I looked up to.
The food here has also been one of the pleasant surprises for me. Personally, I find it exceptional, especially the lentils or masoor dal. I do not think I will ever get tired of eating it. Different meals are served at different times, including non-vegetarian meals twice a week, eggs, seasonal fruits, and pickles. The food has a familiar taste that reminds me of home. I also do not remember wasting much food since I came here. My room is on the top floor, on the right side. The rooms are furnished with the things we need, and the necessary renovations have been made to make our stay comfortable. And then there are the bathrooms. What can I say about them? I sometimes feel like I could spend more time there than in my room! I believe this is because the boys who use that particular bathroom have a strong sense of collective responsibility. They keep it clean, and it rarely disappoints anyone who uses it.
My stay here may be for a short time, but so far, I have tried to take part in almost every activity and programme organized by the college. I want to make the most of my time here and create memories that I can look back on in the future. I hope I can continue doing the same until the end of this semester.