Growing up in a remote village in Samdrup Jongkhar, the nearest road was a two-day journey. However, my parents, who were farmers, understood that education was not just a luxury but a lifeline.
Life in the village meant balancing studies with farming chores, often making homework or studying at home impossible. Even in primary school, I attended a boarding school, where conditions were basic—60 to 70 students crammed into a dorm room. Yet, my passion for learning flourished, especially in math and science.
Adversity struck at 15 when I was diagnosed with TB due to poor nutrition. Hospitalized in Thimphu, I felt lost in the bustling city for the first time. Apa and I got off the bus, unsure where to find our relative's place—back then, we didn’t have cellphones. Forced to take a year off, I grew frustrated and almost quit school to join the monkhood. Despite setbacks, I persevered.
When I completed high school, I didn’t know what an engineer did. Yet, I went to CST and worked hard. College brought new challenges, but I thrived, even earning an exchange scholarship to study abroad in Europe. Though initially daunting, exposure to new experiences boosted my confidence. Yet, my homesickness worsened to the point I swore never to leave Bhutan again. However, fate had other plans. Soon after graduation, I pursued a master's in Portugal, broadening my educational horizons. Equipped with prior experience living abroad, I excelled. Even before graduating, I landed a teaching position back home. Having been a student my whole life, becoming a teacher was daunting.
Despite initial struggles, I embraced the challenge, recognizing the importance of continuous learning. After a few years of teaching, I worked toward my next goal—pursuing a PhD. After applying to many universities, I faced several good options. I chose a scholarship in Japan, embarking on a greater challenge. Leaving my family—a wife and baby—I set off to Japan.
The journey to Japan was fraught with challenges, from language barriers to cultural differences. Yet, my passion for research drove me forward. Life as a PhD student left little time for breaks. Typically, PhDs take 4 years, but my dedication led to completion in 3 years. Receiving my diploma and the internationally prestigious Sakuma Award left me speechless. I wondered how to explain the word PhD to my parents in the village.
Emotionally, I reflected on my journey from a remote village in Bhutan in poverty to earning a PhD at an international institution. Another success followed shortly—a job as a professor at a university in Japan. I took it to gain experience but always aimed to return and serve the motherland, Bhutan.
Written by Dechen Wangdi
written on April 3, 2024.
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