Behind The Peaks

Tsering Bista is a documentary filmmaker based in Jersey City, NJ. She delineates the experience of receiving education from Advanced Enrichment Programs (AEP), which streamlined going into high school. She chose New York University (NYU) for college and worked through various internships for practical experience that helped her obtain jobs. After graduation, she has worked for video teams at PBS Frontline, NPR, CNN, Great Big Story, and New York Magazine. We discuss how her Mustang identity influences her work, and how she strives to represent the Mustang/Tibet/Nepal experience as she explores her professional and personal life. Find more about her here: https://www.tseringbista.com

Tashi Wongdi Gurung, a PhD student from Arizona State University, shares his unique life growing up in the Forbidden Kingdom called Mustang in Nepal. Tashi is interested in understanding human nature relations in Mustang.He recalls going to a Boarding School in Jomsom, which was a truly militaristic school, and learning the value of education very early on in his life. He wanted to be a scientist growing up. With that in mind, he came to NYC, studied as an international undergraduate student in America, and currently is in the process of fulfilling his childhood dream.

Tashi Wongdi Gurung, a PhD student from Arizona State University, shares his unique life growing up in the Forbidden Kingdom called Mustang in Nepal. Tashi is interested in understanding human nature relations in Mustang. He recalls going to a Boarding School in Jomsom, which was a truly militaristic school, and learning the value of education very early on in his life. He wanted to be a scientist growing up. With that in mind, he came to NYC, studied as an international undergraduate student in America, and currently is in the process of fulfilling his childhood dream. Outro Music by https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Nima Doma Sherpa, a Head Teacher at a Montessori School, shares her childhood days in Nepal that were detrimental in her professional as well as her personal life. She explains what a Montessori school is, and how her role is more of a guide than a traditional teacher. Nima shares her displeasing experience with Nepal’s education system at Galaxy Public School, and how everything changed after moving to Burlington, Vermont. She recalls attending her first class in America, and the life-changing teacher’s response for Nima’s misunderstanding of an assignment. Moving forward, her interest in education was revived and she ended up moving to New York to learn about the philosophy of Montessori teaching and became certified to teach. Nima Sherpa would love to eventually open Montessori schools all over the world, especially in Nepal.

Tenzin Atsentsang, a Senior Account Executive at RedIQ, was born in Gangtok, Sikkim and moved to Beaverton, Oregon after his father was selected for the U.S. Tibetan Resettlement Project. Atsentsang recalls growing up in a predominantly White suburban neighborhood in Oregon, and doing the majority of his schooling around that area. In his 6th grade, he shares how he started paying more attention to education after seeing all his peers being celebrated for their accomplishments. Then, Atsentsang discusses his thoughts on education and what his life could’ve been if he was educated in India or Nepal. After college, he unfolds the journey to his professional life and how he ended up being in New York to get closer to the Tibetan Community.

Tenzin Khedup, a Solutions Consultant at AppNexus, shares about his childhood growing up in the NorthEast region of India and attending Lower TCV (Tibetan Children’s Village). We discuss his transition from India to America. He remembers attending school in Madison, Wisconsin and having a designated Tibetan translator for help. Khedup recalls feeling like a minority among minority as a Tibetan American, and recognizing a shift in the default language he uses to process ideas and communicate, from Tibetan to English. His transition to college was smoother due to the college preparation program he attended almost every weekend, and went onto work at a consulting job straight out of college. He shares how it is to work in the corporate world, and how to navigate it. Khedup plans to work for the next decade or so and hopefully volunteer by giving back to the community.

Pemba Sherpa, a Statistics Auditor at National Basketball Association, unfolds his inspiring story of growing up in Chabahil, Nepal and working at the NBA. We discuss his early experience of schooling in his formative years, and then moving to America to readjust in a new environment. He recollects shooting basketball in his backyard while taking care of his brother. We then talk about his experience playing for basketball teams at Bryant High School and Hunter College. This led him to coaching various basketball teams throughout the years and gaining success. Pemba also shares his experience with Nepal’s National Basketball team and the American Basketball Association, which finally led him to working at the NBA.

Tenzing Sherpa, an Analyst at JetBlue Airways shares his story of growing up in NYC. We discuss his journey through the American school system and colleges, as well as his recollection of a college class that led him to discovering his passion for public speaking. He shares his secret routine that he does right before any formal public speaking. We also discuss what it means for us Himalayan professionals in America, and how to provide value back to the community. He shares his trip to Everest base camp after his college and getting a perspective of what it means to be a Sherpa. We discuss the notion of identity and culture, and conclude with his future goals to explore entrepreneurial endeavors.

Join us as we embark on this journey to showcase the unique stories of Himalayan professionals in America.