Tibetan student finds meaning helping others

When a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Dingri county in the Xizang autonomous region on Jan 7, Dekyi Drolma, a 21-year-old Tibetan woman, quickly jumped into action.

Using social media, she mobilized friends and reached out to Tibetan student networks across China. Within days, she helped raise around 140,000 yuan ($19,500) to buy emergency supplies.

She then traveled with peers to deliver the goods to some of the hardest-hit villages near the earthquake's epicenter.

Dekyi Drolma is a senior at Nanjing University — one of China's top schools — on an educational journey that began with a national initiative to provide students from Xizang with access to education in more developed areas.

Dekyi Drolma was born in a small village in Dranang county of Lhokha. After completing primary school, at age 14 she left home to study in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Even at that young age, she felt a sense of responsibility for others and began tutoring children back in her hometown during summer and winter breaks.

In a borrowed room in her village, she taught subjects including Tibetan, Mandarin, mathematics and English. Those classes became an informal local tradition and would continue for the next seven years.

Later, some parents insisted on paying her, but she would only accept a small fee. If a child was from a low-income family, the cost was minimal.

Word spread quickly and the classes grew. Some students made remarkable progress under her tutorship, which motivated her to continue.

"I cannot promise to change anyone's fate," she said. "But I do hope to make a difference and help them see more possibilities."

The classes continued after she moved to Tianjin, a municipality in northern China, to attend high school. When she graduated, she ranked 36th among Tibetan students from inland schools and earned admission to Nanjing University through the national college entrance examination, or gaokao.

Her transition to life away from home was far from easy.

At first, during her middle school days in Xi'an, she struggled with the distance from her family and the unfamiliar social environment.

"I felt isolated," Dekyi Drolma recalled. "Not just because I was far from home but also because I was lost when it came to connecting with others."

She admitted feeling hurt when classmates mistook her quiet focus on schoolwork for coldness. "I was upset when people called me aloof, even though I was just trying to study," she said. "But now I've learned to handle that."

Over time, Dekyi Drolma found her social footing — learning to adapt, communicate and form meaningful friendships. Her experience has strengthened her resilience and shaped her view of the world.

"Immersing yourself in a real environment is totally different from learning online," she said. "I attended high-quality lectures, learned about cutting-edge technologies and experienced cultural diversity."

Her sense of connection to her roots carried over to her relief efforts for the Dingri earthquake. After organizing the online donations, she kept detailed records of items purchased, and she helped transport supplies — including children's clothes, blankets and women's hygiene products — to people affected by the quake.

While deeply attached to her Tibetan identity, Dekyi Drolma no longer feels culturally distant from peers who come from other ethnic backgrounds. As a member of Generation Z, she shares the same digital world and social interests as other young people.

"I love Tibetan music — it gives me emotional comfort and reminds me where I come from," she said. "But I'm also a fan of K-pop, and I enjoy hiking, traveling and scrolling short videos."

Still, life at the university has been challenging. Attending one of the best schools in China means that Dekyi Drolma is just one of many talented students. The shift pushed her to reflect on what success truly means.

Excellence is not about being better than others, she said. It's about making progress, staying true to yourself and living a meaningful life.

Nowadays, she is preparing to start a business in Xizang. She hopes to serve her home region, but she is equally ready to explore other opportunities.

"Whatever I do," she said, "I want it to create value — not just for myself, but for others."