Reflecting on a Decade of Service in Education

On March 16, I formally tendered my voluntary resignation, stepping down from teaching service. Writing a resignation letter was both emotional and fulfilling moment for me and my family. It filled with uncertainty and deep reflection. Perhaps, it offered a moment to reflect on a decade of purpose, growth and service within Bhutan’s education system. 

My journey began on February 15, 2013, in one of Bhutan's most remote District—ZHEMGANG. Fresh out of college, I was young, determined and slightly apprehensive. But I stepped into the classroom driven by a single conviction: to make a meaningful difference.

In Bhutan, schools are more than institutions, they are sacred spaces of transformation. When I joined Zhemgang Central School (ZCS), I did so with the hope of nurturing young minds and growing alongside them. The early days were challenging. Adjusting to the civil service, understanding school culture and living up to the expectations of being a role model demanded deep self-awareness.

Every word and action of a teacher is watched with hope and trust. I tried to meet that responsibility with great humility –remaining disciplined, punctual and mindful in all that I did. Over the next eight years, I chose not just to stay in one of Bhutan’s remotest schools – I chose to engage both within and beyond the school campus. I became a mentor, guide and in many cases, a guardian to students who gathered with hope and aspiration.

I owe much of my growth to Principal Rinzin Namgyal, whose compassionate leadership helped shape my professional outlook. Alongside dedicated colleagues and disciplined students, I found purpose and strength in a shared journey of learning.

In 2021, I transferred to Damphu Central School (DCS) –my alma mater. Returning as a teacher to the very classrooms I once sat in was both surreal and humbling. At DCS, I worked with a great team of educators and students from all walks of life. Each moment on campus left a lasting impression.

A highlight of my time at DCS was participating in the Bhutan Baccalaureate (BB) initiative under The Druk Gyalpo’s Institute. As the lead for the “Emotional Domain,” I witnessed first hand a shift in Bhutan’s education system that focused on holistic, student-centered learning. The experience was among the most defining of my career.

Outside the classroom, I embraced multiple roles: curriculum developer, test developer, examiner, club coordinator, Head of Department and media coordinator. Among the projects closest to my heart was the successful installation of a SkyHydrant water filtration system at ZCS. Carried out in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Thimphu and Aue Yeshey Dorji, this clean water initiative remains a source of pride especially as it later inspired similar projects in schools across Bhutan.

In April 2023, I took Extraordinary Leave (EOL) to pursue higher studies in Australia. The decision came with a lot of emotional cost –most profoundly, leaving behind my two young children who remained in Bhutan with family.

Perhaps, I have spent some of my best years in a far remote corner of Zhemgang educating and embracing both challenges and opportunities.

Across eight years at ZCS and three fulfilling years at DCS, I found not only a career, but a deep sense of nation calling. Resigning was not a decision I made lightly. It emerged from personal obligations and long-term aspirations. But as I submitted my resignation, I reminded myself that service to education need not end with a job title.

Though no longer in the classroom, I carry the lessons, the relationships and the purpose with me. I move forward with pride, knowing I served the nation “Tsa-Wa-Sum” with utmost integrity and great dedication.

The questions will stay with me: Have I done enough? Was I worthy? But perhaps, it is in these reflections that I still continue to think about Bhutan’s progress in education and development.

The classroom doors may have closed behind me, but the conversations never stopped. I still engage meaningfully with students and teacher colleagues—sharing, listening and learning from each other. "Once a teacher, always a teacher" isn't just a phrase. It's a quiet truth I continue to live by.