our new board

བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས།

We are currently going through a refresh in leadership and operations. Thank you so much to everyone who attended our meetings this month and I hope you had as much fun as we did. We can’t wait to see at our next workshop! 

Please welcome our New Executive Board!

Directors:

Tsering Yangchen 

Jinpa Sangmo

Tenzin Dadak

Mentorship Team:

Tenzin Dhonden (Team Lead)

Tenzin Rabyound Dhondup

Tenzin Jamdol

Community Building Team:

Topjor Tsultrim (Team Lead)

Tenzin Yengkey

Communications Team:

Tenzin Pema (Team Lead)

Tenzin Kunsel

Dechen Pema

Operations Team:

Tenzin Tsepak

Dekyi Tsotsong

Hear from a 2023 Rokpa College Fair Attendee

Following a successful 2023 NYC College Fair, we received a lovely letter of appreciation from one of our attendees. We would like to thank Jigme for his sweet note and welcome others to attend our future events.

Dear Rokpa,

My name is Jigme, and I went to the Rokpa College Fair and Conference this summer. 

Being without parents or relatives with background in the college application process, I’ve heavily depended on online resources and the help of Rokpa mentors these past few months in the development of my CommonApp. However, specific questions regarding financial aid and preparation for interviews, among many others, were left unanswered as I scoured the internet for answers pertaining to my unique situation. When word of this event reached me, I knew this was the perfect opportunity for me to fill in the gaps in my understanding. 

The event began with a little introduction, and then quickly transitioned into the main content. The provision of three different periods for guidance from experienced coaches on topics of your own selection (SAT prep, interviews, financial aid, etc.) made the event extremely personalized and beneficial to everybody, provided that one went into these blocks with intention and focus. Following this was the Q&A session, in which Topjor asked a couple of college admissions officers general questions about their approach to choosing between applications, suggestions to students on how to stand out, and many more. This both enlightened me with a better grasp of the admissions officers perspectives and solidified my general knowledge of the process, but what followed was the most insightful activity of all – the college fair. 

The parking lot was packed with numerous tables with students representing their colleges, many of which being the “top of the top” schools. Each student was passionate and well-informed in their respective university, but most importantly, most of these representatives were Tibetan. This provided for a uniquely insightful experience, as the questions I asked each representative could have specific emphasis on the incorporation of my Tibetan identity into the applications and interviews. For example, I learned a lot from the Stanford students as I bombarded them with questions about EC’s, tuition, specific majors, etc. They answered every question clearly, speaking from their own Tibetan experience, and further handed me their contact information in case I had any future questions. To end it off, there was free boba, which is always great! 

Ultimately, the event was both fun and highly educational; the organizers made sure to implement various activities and small additions to keep it enjoyable, while also maximizing the educational aspect by prioritizing not only college admissions’ advice, but that of students as well.

Thuchiche, 

Jigme

If you would like to see more events like this, please donate to Rokpa by visiting Donate — ROKPA (rokpamentorship.org).

Happy Holidays!

We hope this holiday season is a warm, restorative, and hopeful one for you and your loved ones! This year, Rokpa embarked on a transformative journey, launching numerous initiatives, such as the Rokpa Scholars mentorship program and our Teach-in series, all intended in organizing for the collective future of Tibetan youth in exile. This holiday season we reconnect with our loved ones and take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our community. Thank you for being a part of the Rokpa family – we are so grateful to have you!

Our Rokpa Board and volunteers after the 2023 College Fair

2023 Fall Intern Testimony

Hello, my name is Dechen! 

I’m a senior at Albany High School in the Bay Area. I was introduced to Rokpa by my cousin and fell in love with its mission to uplift the Tibetan community through academic mentorship and community enrichment. I joined as a Rokpa Scholar and Rokpa has been pivotal in providing guidance throughout my college application journey. 

My commitment to servicing the Tibetan community has been ingrained in me throughout my life. So when they introduced their Fall Internship program, I immediately applied and was thrilled for an opportunity to participate.

My experience with Rokpa has been transformative. I got to see Rokpa work behind the scenes, making infographics and contributing to community enrichment efforts. With the guidance of Acha Jinpa la, I developed and spearheaded my own project culminating in a workshop on the significance of Tibetan Buddhist sand mandalas. We had the opportunity to learn from Gen Thupten Dhonye la at our local monastery, Gyuto Foundation, and make our own! 

Community members creating sand mandalas at the direction of Gen Thupten Dhonye la

Sand Mandala Workshop Crew, October 29, 2023

This internship allowed me to foster a stronger sense of community among fellow Tibetan students in the Bay Area and for this I am extremely grateful. Now that spring internships are open, I highly encourage anyone interested in servicing the Tibetan community to apply. You can bring your interests and goals to the table and the Rokpa Team will work with you to accomplish them.