My name is Aastha.
My mother is a female community health volunteer and my father was involved in local politics.
The healthcare workers from the health post used to often come to our home to discuss health-related issues with my mother.
I was in awe of healthcare workers. Seeing nurses and doctors in their uniforms during the hospital visits further increased my interest in pursuing a career as a doctor.
Seeing my interest in studies, my father would also tell others that I would be studying medicine in the future. I was fully dedicated to my studies to become a doctor.
However, life is not what we expect it to be.
At that time, the armed conflict was spreading in Nepal. While armed conflict between Maoists and the Government was causing agitation across the country, the war was also making my family vulnerable.
The conflict was dismantling my family, and it was shattering my dream of becoming a doctor.
As my mother was actively engaged in social advocacy works, the Nepal army suspected her of having links to Maoists. She was then forcefully put into the vehicle and was taken to prison.
After spending three months in prison, my mother returned home. But, a few days after her release, my father was mentally tortured and physically abused.
A few months later, my father passed away.
In such a situation, I already knew that I would not be able to fulfil my dreams of becoming a doctor. So, after completing my exams for the 10th standard (SLC), I wanted to prepare to get placement in a nursing school. So, I bought course books and started studying for the staff nursing entrance exam.
In the meantime, I secured good marks in my 10th exam result.
I also felt that I could still fulfil my dreams of working in the health sector by becoming a staff nurse. I then applied for the nursing course. But when I got to know the admission fee of the nursing program, I felt like the sky had collapsed.
As my family's financial situation was unstable, I didn't even dare to share my ambition with my family members. So, I decided to put down my dream of being a nurse and instead joined high school.
Once again, I thought to myself that life is not what we expect it to be or the way we want it to be.
As time passed by, I felt that I should stop being emotionally weak. I also felt that I need to do something to ease my mother's financial burden.
Along with continuing my studies, I became an adult literacy teacher and started teaching adult members of the society, such as mothers, sisters, aunts, who were senior to me. I felt happy to see them learn. I felt proud to be able to bring positive changes to society. With time, my interest in social work also increased.
Although I couldn't serve people as a nurse, I felt that I could still serve society.
I then started my journey as a social worker by being affiliated with different organizations.
I worked at the grassroots within my district. I have been conducting awareness programs for women on the importance of savings, agricultural sectors, nourishment, sanitation, and safe drinking water. I also went door to door to provide an awareness program on 'One house, one toilet' campaign. As I am engaged in providing awareness programs, everyone in the community adores me. They don't consider me any less than a nurse.
Life is not what we expect it to be. We need to change and learn to adapt to any given situation at any given time. That way, we can find happiness.