An Ode to Tibet

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

China | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

My job, for the past twenty three years has been that of high school art teacher but my passion for photography dates back much further. I was born into a long lineage of rebellious dreamers and humble picture takers. My grandmother had her leather- bellows Kodak and my father, his range finder. Having spent the longest part of my adult life fostering the creativity in others, mine has not fallen by the wayside, just gone unnoticed and unappreciated. I long to be a student again, to be filled up… While attending a recent graduation ceremony, I was crying and a colleague asked, “is it because they’re leaving?” Without so much as a second thought, I replied: “well, it’s because they’re leaving me behind…” Since then, my goal has been to strive to be more than the sum of my parts, to push myself beyond my own limitations and others’ expectations. My greatest accomplishments these days are not always in the classroom but rather rafting, hiking, learning new languages and adventures in travel.Why enter this mentorship competition? The best answer would be to be part of something bigger than myself, to work hard at achieving great photos that speak volumes and to make my students proud. During a half year sabbatical, I was fortunate enough to spend two months travelling in Tibet and Nepal. Although our small group was evicted from Tibet, the impact of that journey will forever be a part of who I have become. The wisdom, compassion and unmistakeable grace of the Tibetan people whom we encountered along the way, profoundly touched my soul. The solemnity and austerity of its landscapes left me breathless, awe inspired, small. When the journey abruptly ended, a slight glimpse of Tibet was all that remained.