Sumjung goes to medical school!
I've been so busy getting our high school graduates settled into their new college programs. Which is exciting to say the least. I never imagined, all those years ago, that those small kids would someday be going to college. We have kids in Information Technology, nursing, Hotel Management, Dentistry, Education, Social work, Business, to name a few.. And now we will have our first Doctor!! Maybe you saw my post on Facebook but let me share Sumjung's story.
She has been sponsored by Shanti since kindergarten. I've known her family for many years. They are very poor but hardworking. There are now 6 children! Father drives a small, battered taxi and Mom makes homemade barley beer and sells it in the neighborhood. They are uneducated. But devoted parents. This is the big blessing.They have always encouraged their kids. Mom always tells her daughters (all five of them) that they can do anything they set their minds to if they work hard enough. All the girls have been A and A+ students!
When I saw Sumjung in Kathmandu in March she had been studying for months for the upcoming national entrance exams for medicine. She had been aching her sample exams and was feeling pretty confident. Now, mind you, these national qualifying exams are very competitive and are taken by thousand of aspiring students. Only the top 300 get 100% scholarship for medical school in Nepal and this is what Sumjung was set on. She never asked us for any support for this dream of hers. She wanted to get that scholarship all on her own! So, she studied for months and then took the exam along with fourteen THOUSAND other students and we all waited for the results....
When they were posted 2 weeks later, she obtained ranking #321. She would not get the scholarship. She was crushed and I was crushed on her behalf. She cried and cried. Eventually, when she recovered a bit from the terrible disappointment, we talked. I asked her if maybe she wanted to go for nursing (competitive but not quite as competitive to get into) and she told me No, she wanted to try again for medicine. Now she knew how hard it would be. Much harder than the sample tests that she had done so well on. Would we support her to stay in a hostel for the next 6 months so she could totally focus (without distractions) on preparing for the next exam? Of course we would! She was so determined to get that scholarship, to stand on her own 2 feet.
Fast forward to this past Thursday when I got a call from Tejendra. Results were in. She did it!!! Out of 20,000 students who took the exam this time she scored #281. She did it! Her incredible drive and hard work paid off. She will go to medical school on 100% scholarship. I've been messaging on Facebook with her older sister (Sumjung does not waste her time on social media) and the whole family is just over the moon. Sumjung's trajectory will now change so greatly...and that of her entire family. This is such a huge accomplishment. To say I'm proud of her is an understatement. I've known and loved this girl since she was tiny and my heart is full to bursting. I'm so very, very thrilled for her.....and grateful to her dear family, her devoted sponsors, every teacher she has ever had and to all of You for your love and support of our work for so many years. This is what has been made possible through the love and vision of many hearts working together. Thank you with all my ♥️.
