Since graduating from Kopila Valley School in the year 2021, Kabita has set her sights on what the future of work will look like and how she can prepare for it.

Kabita is a BBS (Bachelors in Business Studies) student at Gyan Sindhu College in Surkhet, and is in her third year. Initially she wanted to study Architecture, but her mom suggested she study BBS. “My mom gave me the push I really needed,” she says. “Had it not been for my mom, maybe I would have been hating the course I’d chosen. When you’re a woman like her, earning to keep your family alive, you really know one or two things about life. And I’ve always persevered to make her proud.”

When Kabita graduated from Kopila Valley School, she was ready to jump into adulthood.

There was one thing she has always been sure about. “I wanted to work as soon as I could.” She is a Finance Assistant Trainee at Kopila Valley School. “Returning to my old school as a Finance Assistant Trainee has been a homecoming of unexpected joy and profound growth.” Her journey, akin to navigating a familiar environment with a fresh perspective, has illuminated the subtle nuances of how Kopila Valley School has shaped not only her mind but also fosters professional development and personal transformation.

“It’s so gratifying to come and seamlessly blend with the familiarity and novelty of the school. I’ve built a different kind of relationship with my former teachers, who are always teaching me new ways to be, and new things to do. But above all, I really love the roots where I can easily spread and comfortably learn and give.”

“I actually have a medical history with Kopila Valley,” Kabita says. “I was born with scoliosis as a child. And I have to tell you, it was not easy in my society,”

As Kabita entered her teenage years, she became acutely aware of societal expectations and the relentless pursuit of perfection that seemed to surround her. She would notice the way people looked at her, or tried to not notice her back, and oftentimes she felt like an outsider. She would frequently catch glimpses of herself in the mirror, noticing the curve of her spine that seemed to mock her attempts to blend in.

The older she got, the whispers and mocking glances from her peers became more pronounced. “I really didn’t want their awkwardness around me to discourage me, but you can never help it.”

One day, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of Kopila Valley School, a beacon of education and empowerment that stood in the center of the Surkhet Valley. Kabita’s parents, recognizing the potential for change, approached the school with a humble plea for their daughter’s inclusion. The school, true to its mission, welcomed Kabita with open arms. For the first time, she found herself in an environment that fostered acceptance and celebrated diversity.

“The teachers and students embraced me, seeing beyond the curvature of my spine to the intelligence and determination I held within.” She joined Kopila Valley when she was just 11 years old. As her scoliosis always limited her physical abilities, an opportunity arose.

Kabita’s case had been a concern for the school’s wellness staff, and after careful consideration, she was given the chance to undergo corrective surgery in the United States.

“The news spread through the village like wildfire,” Kabita says with the biggest smile. “The day I left for the U.S. was bittersweet. I had a guardian and a friend from the school as my travel companion, but I had to say goodbye to everyone else. My whole family and Kopila family gathered to bid me farewell, not as an outcast but as a symbol of resilience and hope. I carried with me the dreams, not only of my parents, but of an entire Kopila family that had witnessed and supported my journey.”

In the U.S, Kabita underwent a successful surgery, thanks to the generosity of Maggie, Tope, U.S. hosts, and Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj/BlinkNow who were always there for her. As she recovered, she also got an opportunity to attend a renowned school where her academic prowess continued to shine.

After six and a half months, Kabita returned back home, recovered and healthy. “I was overwhelmed! It had been a long time since I hadn’t seen my family. There were tears of happiness and joy. Also, the same community that once mocked me rallied behind me, realizing the transformative power of education and empathy.”

Kabita is a modern-day adventurer who loves making Tik Tok Videos. She is into video editing and singing. And there is one thing she wishes her juniors to know:

“Dear juniors, the canvas is yours to paint, the stage is yours to command, and the future is yours to shape. Seize it with both hands, and may your journey at Kopila Valley School be filled with growth, discovery, and triumphs that echo through the courses of time.”