Birma Rana: Launching Dreams for Others
Monday, October 02, 2023
What is your dream? Does this question often make you think, make you wonder, actually make you tear up? For Birma, this question makes her well up with tears in the brink of her eyes. “There was a time when I too dreamt,” she says.
Birma grew up in Surkhet with her big family. She reminisces that she was a dreamer as a young girl. She wanted to explore the universe, travel the world, and meet many new people. With her family’s support, she was able to study until Grade 10. When the time came for her to look for options, choose a field of education, and scout a college, she felt bound not to pursue more education due to her inner conflicts about financing school. Even though she dreamt bigger dreams, Birma somehow always knew that her parents wouldn’t be able to support her. Born to illiterate parents who were victims of early marriage, Birma has eight siblings. The children were just too many to be able to provide for. Being the oldest sibling in the family, she had to be the one to do chores, be a reliable shoulder for her siblings, and make a lot of sacrifices. She knew she HAD to step up.
Birma took the cheapest course she could and the one that required the least time – training to become a security guard. After finishing her course, she was looking for a job that could help her ease her financial struggles. Then she spotted an advertisement from Kopila Valley School. She applied for the post of Security Guard, and with such relief, she got the job. “I was 18 at the time. Kopila Valley School was very far from where I lived, perhaps two hours or something. So, I decided to rent a room near the School. My very first day, I felt a mix of overwhelm and excitement." Now, it’s been five years, and she loves what she does for work.
“With what little education I have received, I haven’t stopped learning more in life. I started as a Security Guard, but now I am an Admin Support. When I think about it, I wish I could appreciate my courage.” Birma has such a pure heart. “I work so that my siblings don’t have to stop their studies, their dreams. One of my sisters is pursuing her Bachelor’s, and my brothers are studying +2 (Grades 11 and 12). It’s important for me to encourage them and let them know that their dreams are my hope.
“As for me, I fulfill my dream of traveling the world here in Kopila Valley School, as I see countless stories in front of my very eyes every day. I get to meet new people and learn new things from them. But of course, there is that wide universe that I dream of exploring. I am confident that my siblings will do that for me.”
Birma has come into who she is by leaps and bounds since the day she started working. She is a working young lady, providing for her family and supporting her siblings. From such a young age, she has built herself with grit and determination, everyday aspiring to be better than yesterday. She is a true inspiration, as someone who doesn’t let her shortcomings stop her from doing what she values the most.
It’s time we applaud people like Birma who work selflessly for others to have a better life.
#FacesOfBlinknow
We are thrilled to have one of our very own Kopila Valley School graduates write this guest blog! Anjali Karki graduated in 2019 and is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism along with a journalism career. We can’t wait to see what she does next.