Yes, I am Ambitious

Note: As a teacher back then, I have always had the highest regard for my students and I persevered to match their ingenuity. I wrote this and lived by it until the very last day. 

I am a schoolteacher, and as expected of one such, I teach students on a daily basis. I have over 30 odd students in each class. I know the Prime Minister of Bhutan is sitting in my class; so do the lawyers, political leaders, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs… My students have a colourful future. 

Lit. Coord. at work

However, I must hasten to add that there is no bigger student than myself in my own class. I have missed the chance of becoming all those that my students have a prospect of, but that does not stifle my ambition anyway. Knowing I do not have a chance only fuels my ambition instead. I grow more and more ambitious day by day, and my only ambition is to become a better teacher every day. 

It's quite something to be teacher, and something else to be primary teacher

“If I couldn't have been an engineer, I would've been a teacher. Not a high school teacher, not a college teacher. A fifth-grade teacher. I specifically wanted to be a fifth-grade teacher ever since I was in fifth grade.

This was something I wanted to do since so early in life. Who knows where these things come from? Probably because my fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, Miss Skrak, was so good to me and I liked her so much. I felt she had helped me so much in life by encouraging me. And I believed, truly believed, that education was important.

My first batch of students

I remember my father telling me way back then that it was education that would lift me up to where I wanted to go in life, that it could lift people up in values. I remember how he said that the world was kind of screwed up at the time—there was the Cold War between the USSR and the United States and all that. And he said that with education, the newer generation could learn from the mistakes of their parents and do a better job.”

Excerpt From: Steve Wozniak & Gina Smith. “iWoz.” Apple Books.

Succinct Notes on My Maiden JSYB

This is a personal account of Team1Global's major meet-up called 'Jump Start Your Business' (JSYB). It was the first of its kind that I attended back in 2019. 

Team1Global or simply T1G is a platform that offers entrepreneurial education and business opportunities. They have a series of intricate procedures of bringing in new recruits and once they are brought in, they are groomed to act on their own through the provision of entrepreneurial and self-improvement education. That is the education part. The next is the business part and it emulates the pyramid model by putting up Amway products for sale.                                                                                                                                             

      Sydney

5/1/19

It was altogether a new experience for me and I could not have thought of starting my new year any better than this. Prior to attending this, I had certain apprehensions. I thought it would hardly be any different than watching the recorded clips of the very event later. However, the experience of being there is completely at a whole new level. Seeing a huge boisterous throng, I was totally awestruck, and seeing a magnificent line-up of speakers left me star-struck. I realized T1G is a new revolution of sorts. I literally felt the T1G wave all over, with goose-pricks taking me off-guard. Now I understand why my mentor and sponsors emphasized on the need to go attend this event first hand, in the very first place. 

In addition to the general session, I am overly gladdened that I could also attend the preceding session which was on leadership, chiefly for the leaders in this business. Thanks to my mentor and sponsors who deemed I was ready to get the most out of that too. 

The first couple onstage was Ajaya and Madhumita. Young but highly successful, and they had that special presence onstage that moved me instantaneously. They not only possessed a gift of gaff but also, had an excellent sense of ethos, pathos and logos. One of the highlights of what Ajaya said will remain indelibly etched on the annals of my memories: “My manager owns a better car than me NOT BECAUSE I CAN’T AFFORD IT BUT BECAUSE HE CAN’T RESIST IT”.  

The couple talked about mentorship, positive self-talk, building a shield, ownership, self-image, and value time. While each of these is important, I felt mentorship, positive self-talk, and value time are more pertinent to me at this point in my life. Mentorship wakes us up from living a life of lies and put us back on track which leads us to the realization of our much-coveted but less-pursued dreams and aspirations. It sets us on fire and grooms us so well that we are amply shielded with an arsenal of positive attributes and vibes that the force of negation this world lashes at us stands no chance.  

Positive self-talk reminded me of the classical conditioning theories that I studied in my undergrad which basically means we can condition our responses irrespective of the stimuli (through positive reinforcement). It is clearly displayed in the Bollywood blockbuster “3 Idiots” where the lead characters keep saying “All’s well” and gently rubbed over their left chests (supposedly where the heart is located) every time they came across difficulties. They said that our hearts freak out easily because they are cowards, but they can be easily fooled too. So the best way to fool them is by convincing them that everything is alright even when it is not. Rashmi, in one of his audios also shows us some of the positive self-talk we can do. I always do this. I just talk with myself. I look at the mirror and say, “Tashi, you are the best!” and I hear a roar of laughter coming from behind (of course, from my wife), but that does not stop me. I am glad that now she understands why I do this. 

And time management is the master-key that can unlock all the mysteries of our problems in life. Every problem in our lives one or the other way rises from the ill-management of time. Everyone gets just 24 hours regardless of one’s social standing, creed or ethnicity. It is quite sad to note that time is what everybody takes for granted, and it worries me a great deal that I am no different in time management. Watching the 2011 Hollywood film “In Time” starring Justin Timberlake made me realize how we are uncontrollably governed by time. But, it is Madhumita’s insight into creating 15 minutes time pockets that I think opened my ways. It is simple but something I have never realized that I could have thought about that too. It is going to make my assignment time a lot easier and manageable this coming semester. In addition, the Eisenhower goal setting formula is bound to make my time management a lot beautiful experience. 

Hemant and Smitha followed next brightening up the stage all the more. One best thing that Hemant said was the difference between LIFTERS and LIMITERS, and spelt out that we ought to lift ourselves and be our own best cheerleaders. The couple also made it clear that “Life is only getting busier and tougher, and if you can’t do it today (build your business), forget about tomorrow.”

Samir and Jasmine had the audience glued with their let’s-get-down-to-business attitude. They dexterously dissected the model this business is set and operates on and explained each segment in strings of eloquence. I am looking forward to seeing this clip released on the T1G website and revisit it all over. 

Lastly, I would like to add some random picks:

“A group of sheep led by a lion can beat a group of lions led by a sheep”-Hemant & Smitha

“You make a noise and sheep run. You make a noise and lions come.”-Hemant & Smitha

“In this arena, you are the one who’s adding value in others and not the other way round”- Ajaya & Madhumita

“You can’t have coaching before mentorship.”- Ajaya & Madhumita

“Failure is a success in disguise.” – Ajaya & Madhumita

“Go-givers vs go-getters”

“Until you are free in thoughts, freedom of speech doesn’t mean anything.”

“Your purpose needs to evolve over time.” -Smitha

“If you don’t have a dream dying for, you will not have a life living for.”- Hemant

“Every decision you make is attached to your lack of money.”

“PHD: People Headed to Diamonds.” I remember my friend saying that it stands for Permanent Head Damage. I am not sure if I will ever go PHD in the latter sense, but I can and I will in the former sense. 

And the panel talks added a lot of values. They simply displayed the level of commitment and passion for this business. More so, they revealed their understanding of this business. 

Wrapping it up, I am just reminded of someone who said, “JSYB actually stands for Just Start Your Business. So just JUMP START” and I found it so so true. 

Mr Prabir in full command in one of the monthly meets.  

Pointing to the stage, my mentor-coach, Mr Prabir said, “Do you see yourself amongst them one day? If you do, you will live it.” I am sure I did when I said this to my wife, “One day I will make the world pay to listen to my story.” 

ps: This note pieces my take-aways. I know some lines are quite corny but I decided to put them up regardless. However, it is not that I didn't edit out some (cornier ones). The catch is I am no more a part of this platform for I had quit it for personal reasons. But, I must admit that I liked the education part a lot and it helped me a great deal in finding 'clarity' in my life. 

The World After High School

Around thirteen years ago, a bunch of young lads crossed this bridge to test the waters and explore the world of teaching. It was a completely different world there altogether. The location had everything to sustain life although things like power, roads, cellular phone network, and LPG weren’t anywhere within its reach. But, such inadequacies and deficiencies only made us more resilient and ready to weather the storms. That was why the teacher apprentice programme of such nature was devised in the first place. For me, it wasn’t any different than spending months in the thicket, left to fend for myself and try my ‘butterfingers’ in the given trade. Despite my initial hesitation and misgivings, I’d gone headlong and came out not just alive but prepared to undergo a similar hardship again.

Burichhu Suspension Bridge

Fast forward thirteen odd years, I can still maintain that those were the best days of my life. I wouldn’t be who I’m today if not for that adventure-laden, heuristic teacher apprentice programme. It not only helped bridge a young, innocuous high school graduate’s journey with that of a curious, over-zealous teacher apprentice’s, but also helped bridge the fledgeling teacher apprentice’s journey with that of a tried-and-trusted regular schoolteacher’s. And besides all that, the sight of this bridge still gives me gooseflesh all over every time I pass by today.

 

Postscript: Teacher apprenticeship was a requirement that every teacher-select candidate had to undergo before they were taken to the teacher training college. After a fortnight-long induction, they were placed in every nook and cranny across the country for about eight months. After its completion, they underwent B.Ed, a three-year course. Just to clarify, it’s not a prac; they’d their prac in the second year. The teacher apprentice practice is discontinued from 2009.

Some more photos I later discovered on Facebook. I can’t attach any credits since I’d downloaded them from various threads with no intention of using them later. 

Phuensumgang Community Primary School, Lajab Gewog, Dagana.

The couple under the umbrella was the Basic Health Worker and his better-half.

And a lot of familiar faces replete with carefree smiles. 

Looks like the former education minister Thakur Singh Powdyel had visited the school. 

If you could see the little huts behind the traditional tents, that’s where the students stayed. The school had no boarding facility then. So their parents built such makeshift huts to house them since the nearest settlement was about an hour far from the school. Worse, the bear-boar-infested paths between their homes and school left them with no better alternative. 

Oh, the school now has a uniform too! Back in 2007, the children could wear any Gho and Kira, and most of them were either barefooted or gum-booted. But my goodness, they really worked hard! Our Principal used to send us to monitor them in their huts and I’d almost always found them studying, something I don’t see today, particularly in the urban schools. And oh, they always had kerosene lamps to ensure that they studied beyond the sundown. 

In one of the huts, two little sisters stayed all by themselves. One was in grade 1 and other in pre-primary. The elder sister did all the cooking and washing by herself. And better yet, she did exceptionally well in academics too. 

On hindsight, these children were the best lessons of my life. They made the best use of what little was within their reach and they thrived; I still keep hearing stories about their successes and they make me a bit teary-eyed but more than anything else, ultra-proud. 

The usherette in this photo was the Principal (Palden Dorji) then. 

This whole place was usually shrouded in thick blankets of fog most of the year. While it missed every bit of the modern amenities, it’d plenty of leeches and sandflies as if that did any good for all its inadequacies. God has the best humour, you must know!

This is how the locals there commuted from the nearest road-point then. It was roughly a six-hour walk uphill. They always had to walk in groups for safety since the thickets were home to mountain bears and wild boars. I’m told that they’ve roads today. 

Summer was terrible there. The school was literally cut off from the rest of the world with these tiny streams becoming irksome monsters. 

However, this photo reminds me of my first walk to that school. We’re five of us and sixteen little boys had come all the way to help us with our luggage. We reached the school at 9 pm, totally exhausted and famished, and fully drenched in perspiration, but inexplicably satisfied having conquered the first of the many obstacles. 

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men

Take a dip into the news on various mainstream and social media sources and you almost always see our own lots caught smuggling drugs and a host of other illegal stuff, fabricating and forging bills and documents for personal gains, siphoning public fund, rape and sexual molestation, theft and burglary, shopkeepers and taxi drivers taking advantage during dire situations and the list goes on. It should make us question where things have gone wrong. As much as these individuals or groups have failed us and the nation, we have equally failed them as a society and as a nation. Something somewhere in their education, parenting and social circle must have been awfully deficient that it has fallen short in building a strong character and conscience, nurturing the grace of mind, and bringing up a generation of incorruptible souls. The great Gandhi remarked, “The end of education is to build a character.” If you are still not sure what this ‘character’ entails, then you should take a glimpse at our legendary monarchs. It is nothing but a robust, relentless ‘character’ Their Majesties exude and exhibit both in action and spirit. And we should bask under Their glorious light and follow Them headstrong for They are the lodestars amidst this sea of conundrums. If They cannot inspire and instil a fire in us to be our better selves, than who else can?

As clichéd as it may sound, it is never too late in building our lots, in building our nation. So, the primary responsibility falls back to education, parenting and us as a community all over again—quite needless to say. Therefore, dear nation-builders, let’s build a nation that is conscientious, SMART, and life-ready; let’s nip in the bud for in the words of Frederick Douglass:

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Postscript: An opinion originally published on a Facebook page.