Maya Universe AcademyNetherlands

The First Batch

Every year our oldest students faced new challenges, every year they had to struggle, and every year they exceeded expectations. This is the story of our first batch.

Our oldest students have always had to be in the spotlight. They were not only the first to join Maya, but also the first to graduate and spread their wings. The impact of our education is measured by their successes and shortcomings. Every year they faced new challenges, every year they had to struggle, and every year they exceeded expectations. This is the story of our first batch.

Having spent the better part of their final year of secondary school in lockdowns, the build-up to their final exams was anything but conventional. If there’s one thing that we’ve learned during this pandemic, it’s how to make the best of a bad situation. You can’t control all the shit life throws at you, but you can control how you respond to it. So that’s what they did. Despite the lack of resources, the 10th grade Mayans set up online classes, off-line education hubs and private tutoring for the younger ones. Meanwhile, they themselves were preparing for what was supposed to be the biggest test of their lives yet. But managing a nationwide examination while minimizing human interaction was a bridge too far for the Nepali government. Instead, schools around the country were forced to mark their students based on their performance throughout the year. The first batch’s results were outstanding.
Even though our focus was never just on learning by the book, every single one of the 24 first batchers passed with flying colors. Those who preferred to pursue passions in arts and sports also stepped up in their final year to show the world they could live up to contemporary society’s standards. And those who were more interested in following scholastic career paths saw their academic prowess reflected in their Grade Point Average (GPA), ranging from 3.2 (B+) to 4.0 (A+) aka a perfect score.

Ten years of Maya, ten years of hard work, and ten years of team-building have led the first batch to where they are today. Out of 24, nine have moved to Kathmandu to further their studies. Five are currently studying at the capital’s top colleges on scholarships, three are joining film school, and one entered a vocational training program. The other fifteen stayed in Maya’s home district of Tanahun to finish 11th and 12th grade before joining their friends in Kathmandu for university. Eight of them are living at Maya, helping us with classes, administration, agriculture, and volunteer coordination. Five are living with their families in the village, and two are renting their own place in the district’s capital, Damauli, while working part-time. Speaking from first-hand experience, I can say that having our own Maya alumni with us as supporting staff is an absolute delight. Their passionate commitment and unwavering optimism make running schools, farms, enterprises, and construction projects seem like a walk in the park.

Whether it’s in the field of law or performing arts, science or business, education or politics, these young adults are determined to work hard for what they believe in. What used to be distant dreams of positive change are slowly turning into tangible targets, and careers as top-level doctors, artists, politicians or engineers are coming within reach. Whatever our students end up doing, I’m sure they’ll leverage their successes to help others get the same opportunities they did, and develop the country in the process. I, personally, can’t wait to see how their future unfolds.