Title

Student Tendar Tsering Shares His Life Journey

Banner
Student Tendar Tsering
Body
8/17/18

When Minneapolis College student Tendar Tsering was 12 years old, he decided to leave his family in Tibet and cross the Himalayan Mountains to study in India. His passion for the field of healthcare motivated him as he embarked on this dangerous month-long journey of more than a thousand miles.

Widgets

“It’s been 20 years since I left my family,” said Tendar, who reveals the pain of separation from his family and homesickness haunt him every minute. “Yet the joy of being at the edge of turning my dreams into reality heals my wounds of homesickness and separation.”

Through Illness Comes Inspiration

Tendar recalls witnessing his father sick and bedridden for months. “I was only nine, but my father’s illness inspired me to become a healthcare professional,” said Tendar. He is confident he can make a difference in many ways with his education through nursing, teaching, researching or advising state and national healthcare committees. 
 

“I am determined to help educate people in my home country of Tibet about the importance of taking care of one’s health,” said Tendar, who recognizes many of the cities in Tibet are turning into hubs of drug addiction, prostitution and alcoholism. “I would like to provide information, either in person or online, about how to stay safe from unwanted diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis or simply educate people about how to stay healthy.”

Tendar is not the first in his family to attend college. He is, however, one of few Tibetans born in Tibet and raised in India who has been able to study in the United States.  He speaks five languages, has studied under the Dalai Lama in Tibet and is active in many civic organizations. Tendar holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Metropolitan State University (Minnesota), a postgraduate diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (India) and a bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola College (Chennai, India). 

Tendar is currently taking an array of math and science courses at Minneapolis College in preparation for graduate school at Marquette University where he has been accepted for their Direct Entry Level Master of Nursing Program. He tutors other students who access Minneapolis College’s Learning Center and writes for the College’s student paper, City College News

“Two More Years”

Tendar is an experienced journalist having written thousands of articles for local, national and international publications. He recently completed a book entitled Two More Years, which highlights his inspiring life since leaving Tibet.

Two More Years is dedicated to Kelsang Namtso, who died in an open fire by the Chinese border patrol in 2006, along with many other Tibetans fleeing Tibet who became victims of the Chinese border patrol or died in anonymity of frostbite or hunger during this perilous journey,” said Tendar. 

The title of the book reflects many conversations with family. Tendar replied to their inquiries of when he would return home with the words “two more years.” It has been 20 years.

Tendar acknowledges his hard work and determination and the supportive people he has met throughout his lifetime for teaching him to be a good human being. Tendar’s motto is, “the world is a big family and all human beings are sisters and brothers.” 

Share This Story