Neeru: Born for my brother but making my own story
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
So few moments in life do we watch unfiltered honesty play out before us. Moments of transformation and passage are rare, let alone shared. Neeru is a 2021 graduate of Kopila Valley School. Her story is inspiring, heart-throbbing and all about discovering herself in the folds of her chapters. Apart from achieving her dream, she loves singing and playing soccer. She is finally in a new chapter of her life, and we cannot wait to witness the unfolding of it.
Maybe dreams are the whispers of our hearts. Maybe dreams are the architects of our destinies, a possibility of what could be. Maybe dreams are the alchemists of inspiration. Or just maybe dreams are the storytellers of our subconscious, narrating tales that our waking selves may be hesitant to acknowledge.
In her own words, here is Neeru’s story.
Starting out
I never knew what my dream was. Perhaps because I was a female in a Nepali society, because I was a daughter.
We are a total of seven siblings, six sisters and one brother. Just for my brother to be born, six of us sisters had to be born. You’re expected to pave the way for your younger siblings, if you want to or not. But here, you’re supposed to clear the path for them, so they can easily pave their own road. So six of us sisters never dared to dream because we knew what we would be taking away from our brother. But that’s not all of it.
I was born in Jumla, a remote northwestern part of Nepal. Life begins amidst the towering peaks of the Himalayas and a crispy air. However, life in Jumla also presents its share of challenges. Although rich in cultures and values, Jumla is a foundation of strong beliefs. You have to have a SON in the family. And just like the rest of the community who wanted sons so that they could be the breadwinner of the family,, my parents were trying for a son as well. Unfortunately for them, six of us sisters had to be born before my brother came into the world.
We ALL witnessed the birth of our brother. My parents celebrated his birth as if he was their firstborn. It’s not uncommon in Nepali society. People celebrate for their sons and frown upon daughters. I remember there was a feast of delicious food, dance, and singing. I hoped they danced like that for my birth too.
Our family is big, and with just a farming income, our parents were unable to feed everyone. My oldest sister picked up a job to make rugs, other sisters started helping my parents on fields and house chores while my brother was sent to school, and I was sent away to stay with my grandmother in Surkhet. I still remember that as a child, I did not enjoy the will to venture out of the house.
Moving to the city
As I stood on a rocky headland and looked out over the heaving city, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There were monstrous objects on wheels driving past you, and more people than I was used to. You see, I was only six years old then. And everything at the moment seemed gigantic; the land, the sky, the vastness of the entire city.
I felt very small.
Then there was another surprise. I found myself strapped in with books and notebooks and on my way to school with my grandmother. I joined the primary class, and there were so many little faces, I did not realize they would soon be my friends, sisters, and brothers.
Who would have thought my life would take this drastic and dramatic transition?
I grew up in Kopila Valley School. And that’s a huge statement. But it is true. Because I was myself here, I discovered myself, I was not expected to be my brother. I was appreciated for being a girl, I was taught to dream and to be transparent.
Coming next
I graduated from Kopila Valley in the year 2021. Although I didn’t know what I wanted to do further, I enrolled myself in a nursing school along with my friends from Kopila Valley School. Had I known I would love nursing, it wouldn’t be a surprising journey at all. Unknowingly, I found something that really excited me.
I found my dream!
Nursing has helped me in countless ways – how to be polite, how to be calm and kind. It has also brought to life the part of me that I had tucked away for a very long time, which is passion.
Currently, I am preparing for my nursing license. I am just 6 months away from receiving it, and I cannot wait for the journey I’ll take after that.
All I have to say to the readers, well wishers, supporters, and my dear Kopila Juniors is this:
You can’t change a beginning that began in the past. You can end it, and start a new beginning that begins now.
We are thrilled to have a Kopila Valley School graduate write this guest blogger series and share alumni stories! 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 each of these world-changers does next. Follow us on social media with the series hashtag (#NarrateYourKopilaStory) for more about these young adults and their adventures.