Growing up in a small village where English was uncommon, I rarely spoke it and was afraid of making mistakes. But here I am now, chasing dreams that once seemed impossible.

I was born in a small village in Bhutan where life was simple yet filled with unique challenges. Despite our family’s struggles, my grandmother and my aunt were my pillar of support. They consistently encouraged my ideas and always emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance. These values have shaped the person I am today.

From a young age, I felt a deep connection to art and dreamed of a career in the creative field. Initially, I didn’t know how to make these dreams come true, but I stayed determined.

I also had to balance school with odd jobs to support my own education. During school breaks, I would return to my village to take on construction work for extra income. In addition, I would also do traditional carving, painting, carpentry, blacksmithing, sculpting, and stonework. After my sixth standard, I was lucky enough to be selected as the first batch for His Majesty the King of Bhutan’s new school, The Royal Academy.

The Royal Academy changed my life by focusing on the Bhutan Baccalaureate, which emphasizes holistic development in five areas: cerebral, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical. This approach fosters continuous growth for students and faculty, promoting a just and harmonious society. It creates a supportive community where learners can take risks, develop their inner potential, and become constructive citizens. I am everly grateful to the Royal Academy in aiding in making my dreams come true as I grew up. 

After my 12th, With no design colleges in Bhutan, I sought opportunities abroad. I decided to join JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU) in Jaipur on the recommendation of my school director, who had collaborated with Prof. A. Balasubramaniam, Director of the Institute of Design at JKLU.

At JKLU, I am learning the true essence of design. It involves more than creating aesthetically pleasing objects; it’s about solving problems, driving change, and shaping the world. Every day brings new lessons and challenges, each offering a chance to grow and have my dreams guided by experts in the field.

Now, my aspirations are even greater. I aim to open my own design studio in Bhutan and offer children like me from various places across the country, the opportunity to chase their dreams as well.

This journey has taught me much. It has shown that no matter what your starting point, with dedication and the right support, you can achieve great things. But this doesn’t mean the end to my story, I hope to become a constructive contributory citizen to my nation.

Karma
Dreamer. Artist. Achiever.