Selden Wangmo Dorji

Born 1999, from Thimphu

When I was four or five, my mother’s friend told me I was talented for my age. I had not known until then, that something I created for the sake of creating could be good or bad. That validation from a stranger meant I was” correct”. This was when I asked myself, “Am I good at this?” I decided I was.

My first crushing moment came from my second-grade teacher who said I was too confident.

When did we decide to allow others to tell us who we are? That being confident means you’re conceited? Or that your work has value if others say it does? I will now, finally be sticking to my true authentic path, wherever it may lead.