My name is Sonam Quji and I am 16 years old. My family lives in a village in Zaduo County. There are 6 children in the family. I am the 5th child and I have 4 older brothers. My oldest brother is a monk, my second brother is pursuing a career as a Thangka artist, and my third and fourth brothers are herding livestock at home. My younger brother and I are now in school. My family's main source of income is foraging yartsa gunbu(a herb common in Tibet) and herding. I dropped out of elementary school after the second grade to herd cattle at home. Last year, one of my father's friends' children went to school, and I also very much wanted to go. So I discussed with my parents my wish to study Tibetan medicine at the Cixing School. My mom and dad were very supportive, and my dad brought me to the school on the first day of the new semester. I felt incredibly happy while studying at the school, and I wanted to be a doctor in Tibetan medicine in the future. I can help my family when they are sick and have a stable income. I want to take care of my mom and dad in the future.
