Tuesday, July 7, 2015

A simple inspiration letter to younger brother




Thursday, April 30, 2009
My Dearest Dawa,


Let me begin by asking how you are doing? I can only hope that this letter will find you in the best of health and happiness. Here in Thimphu, both of us are doing just fine. I have heard from Ana last week and they are all fine in Punakha. Ama is fine as well. I am also certain that Ata Sangay and Mathang Pema are fine in Kanglung. I also mailed to Ata Dorji and he is doing very well in all regards. Thanks to the blessings of Kenchosum, harmony of Tsawasum and love of our parents. Oh…..for your information Ata Dorji has finished his final examination and he said it went well. He has been relieved from his college but he said he would stay back in India until the result is out. I am very happy for him.

Now let me come to the point straight away. I am sure you know why I am writing to you.  Actually I wanted to write to you much earlier but due to my busy work schedule I couldn’t. I beg your pardon for that. Well I have been telling you often times how important this present stage of your life is particularly being in 12th grade. You also do know very well that you are standing on a pivotal point of your life now. You know that this year, year 2009, will decide what you will be and where you will be in your future. This means your academic performance in class 12 will basically determine your career. This is one of the most important points in your life but the most important in your educational life. If you perform well in class 12, you are headed for further education which means you are looking at bright and happy future. On the contrary, if you don’t do well in class 12, it might be the end of your education and worse is you are looking at a dark and gloomy future. So my dearest brother, the dice is in your hand. It is how you cast it. We are always by your side but remember “you are the architect of your own future/life”.  If you want to be a doctor, it is you who can make yourself a doctor and not your teacher or parents or the government. If you want to be a scientist, only you can make yourself a scientist. If you want to be an engineer, only you can make yourself an engineer. Remember, teachers can only guide you and help you to achieve your dreams but they cannot make you what you want to be. It is as the saying goes, “you can take a horse to the pond but can not make it drink.”  

My dear brother, I am not ordering you to do something for me or for our mother or for anyone for that matter. In fact, we are not asking you to be successful for us but it is for yourself, your own good. We know what life is like and what it takes to stand up as a man in these modern times. I for one have not only seen it but lived through and you bet life is not easy. You too have seen with your own eyes how the level of education affects the quality and type of lifestyles people lead. Therefore, having known the truth and seen things I am hoping that you would have realized why you should study hard and become successful in life.

There are so many things I want to tell you but I will tell you just one more thing today and that is about now or never. I can tell you for sure that I regret for not pursuing my higher studies during the opportune time. It is not that I was not given a chance but it is that I had forsaken the chance due to my short sightedness. Now I wish to do it but it is not possible. Firstly, chance is so rare for my qualification and secondly I have grown older whereby I do not qualify because of age restriction, and thirdly I have to work and earn and so I can not afford time. There is no way I can buy time or opportunity. It is as rare as water in desert. Thus, you must understand that this is your golden chance which you must grab it and make the best of it. You must also keep in mind that if you let it go now, it might never come back to you. My boy, opportunity knocks only once! My brother, it is now or never!

I also had a look at your last year’s mark sheets and I was really disappointed in you. It is far from anybody’s satisfaction. On the average I was hoping at least in seventy’s line but I was shocked to see your marks in 40s and 50s line except for Dzongkha. It is unlike your class 10 result which was quite good. If you remember, I told you that you must do much better in class 12. Perhaps you must have forgotten it. Nonetheless, I am reminding you now and am ringing a bell into your ears that it is high time to wake up to the reality. It is high time you realize that class 12 examination is not far away. It is already May, almost half way through the year and December will be here even before you realize it. PB Shelly said, “If winter is here can spring be far behind.” Likewise, if May is here can December be far behind? Remember, time really flies! So forget about everything and focus your whole attention to studies from now until class 12 exams are over. I tell you it is not too late to start now BUT if you do not start now it might be too late. Waste no more time on other things and put all your efforts into studies. Other things can wait but not studies. If you do this, I bet you will never regret it.

Lastly, Ama, Ana, Ata Sangaya and Ata Dorji, all of us are hopeful that you will do your best and come out with colourful results. At the same time we are really concerned about your performance this year. We are concerned because you are the youngest in the family and we don’t want to see you do badly and ruin your future. We are hopeful because you are a good boy and you proved us in class 10 that you can do. Above all we know that we can count on you as a responsible person and that you will never let us down.

Our prayers and good wishes are always with you. We love you.

On behalf of our uniquely beautiful family.

Ata Karma D. Gyeltshen
DYS, MoE, Thimphu

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