My name is Kargyal Tsering. I was born in 1982 in Amdo, Tibet. At the age of seven I started primary school which is in my town. I studied three subjects for six years at primary school. In 1996 I finished primary school. Later that year I joined middle school which was farther away than my primary school. Middle school was big as well as there was so many subjects.

I don't mean that monasteries are not school but they are only for monks. Therefore the only choice was coming to India by risking my life. At the age of twenty-eight I left my seventy-five years old dear father behind and took that dangerous journey. The hardest thing was the departure from my beloved father and my dear siblings that foggy morning. I felt that half of my body was out of function when I saw that my father was trying to fight back his tears, and he said, in a tearful voice, that I should not forget that there is a simple nomad family that is always willing to support me. Also he added that I should not have any hesitations to ask for support if it would be necessary. Those were the words which made me lose the strength to hold back my tears. But, I didn't want my father to worry about me by seeing the ...........

So I left school. I always worked in the fields from spring season to autumn. In the winter time I learned the ancient Art of Tibetan Thanka.

Sadly, I didn't get the chance to read any books. I was too busy working in the home or I worked in the field. Day after day my level of education became weak. One day I went to visit the city Xining with my parents where I met my classmates. I am shy as they were going to college. I debated with them for an hour. I faced a lot of difficulty answering some questions. I wasn't even able to write my mother language well. My feeling was like one bird fell in the pool. My whole body became nervous. Soon I thought in my mind about the benefits of an education. I desired to learn again because if I had an education, I wouldn't meet such a problem. If I stayed at home, I wouldn't get the chance to attend school again. It was impossible for me to attend school in Tibet. Then I thought in my mind to move in exile. In the last month of 2006 I prepared to move away from my beautiful home. I arrived to Lhasa to search for a guide. One chilly autumn day, I prepared to walk from Lhasa to a life in exile. we all walked in the dark every night. We couldn't walk during daylight because there would be more Chinese.

We all crossed a lot of Mountains, rivers and snowy hills. Such of a problem I didn't experience in my present life time. We walked for fifteen days until we arrived at the Tibetan reception in Nepal.One month later I came by bus to Dharamsala, India. The bus fare was very expensive but fortunately

all expenses was paid by my country mate. In the morning, I arrived at the Tibetan reception in Dharamsala, India. Then I got a chance at attending school again. I had been studying English and Tibetan for three years at the Tibetan Transit School. I came here in exile for an education and to learn about the Tibetan issues. My ambition is to learn as much as I can so that I can stand up on my own feet when I go back to my nation. I wish to make education a way of life in Tibet.

In my life I feel better. The education environment is making peace in our minds and eliminates ignorance in us.

It is like a key. If we open our mind and our eyes, we will see beautiful things and different views.

Thanking you

E.S.Tibet Student
Kargyal