Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law and Us

"What will you become?" asked one of the village men. "Thrimpon?"

With a big, bright smile, I replied, "I don't know. I'll be very learned in the future."

I looked back to when I first applied to the first-ever law school in the history of Bhutan. I hadn't intended to study law, but here I am.

No matter where you come from or what you do, there are stories untold and forgotten. The anecdotes unshared, the commonness of the roots uncomprehended and the glorious memories perish into the wisp of uncatchable voices. I write this to keep my moments alive and make this stand tall and different. The connections associated are going to define something in unexpectedly big ways through the ravages of changing times. With this, I try my best to transport myself back to countless moons ago by spanning every moment that counted. The post I write here might sound like rhetoric and portray abstract ideals, but it connects us with what we were, how life changes, and what you are meant to do. I share the common goodness in connecting the world, enriching relationships, and making our days count.

Here's the story of how I ended up in law school.

It was one of the cold winter days in November 2016. The piquant day was engulfed by roaming clouds and the hidden sun. I was in Lumitsawa, a hinterland away from the main highway just below Dochula Pass. It was there that my true journey began. The journey that would determine my future direction.

As I remember, it was around 5 o'clock in the evening when I wondered if our royal family had a personal Facebook account. I typed in the name of our Great Fourth, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck," and right before I finished typing, I saw the name "Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law."

I joyfully clicked on the page. There was a post announcing that those who had completed class 12 in 2016 or earlier could apply to the law college by today.

That was the last day to apply for law school admission and I had been completely oblivious to its existence.

It was 2015 when I completed my second year of high school. I stayed in my village throughout 2016, considering health studies as a potential career path, until I realized that my physics results didn't meet the required criteria. My dream was to become a doctor. I turned down every in-country scholarship opportunity that came my way.

To be honest, I couldn't bear the thought of my dream being shattered right before my eyes. Dreaming is an essential part of my life. It keeps my hope alive and drives me forward in every step I take. It's like a bright sun breaking through a dark cloud, bringing the promise of warmth.

After much contemplation, I realized that the choices I had made and the things I had said were not truly my own. The dreams may be shared, but the choices must come from within.

You might be wondering why I'm saying all of this. The first reason is that I am an empathetic person and I wanted to help everyone. The second reason is that, in addition to Dzongkha and English, I was also good at biology. These two factors might have contributed to my desire to become a doctor. You could say that I had good reasons for failing.

The third reason was that I was told of the reputation and potential of the healthcare field, and of the success of students who excelled in bio-science. My ambition was irrational and fledgling, but my blind optimism was so strong that I couldn't accept the fact that I would have to spend a fortune to achieve my dreams.

Eventually, I realized that I was a flexible person. A man has many dreams, and a man's dreams are achieved through the conscious choices he makes. It was only when I first learned about law school that I realized I wanted to do something that would take me all over the world, connecting with people and helping those in far-flung villages.

I really wanted to socialize, speak out, and help people. I wanted to travel, and being confined to the four corners of a hospital wasn't suitable for me.

They say that to live a fulfilling life, you should do what you love and what excites you. But I also thought about the alternative: loving what you do, even if it's not necessarily what you love.

Maybe the things we think we love aren't really love at all. There are also unconscious choices to consider.

I return to the evening when I was in Lumitsawa, and how curiosity led me to the law school page. It's the choices we make, not our abilities, that define who we are. There are many able people who are lost and unaware of the choices they have.

The link on the page took me to the JSW Law website, and finally, a Google form appeared. I carefully filled out the required fields.

I don't exactly remember receiving a reply, but I do remember that I was accepted. They asked me to send all the necessary documents within 10 working days.

To my surprise, the email arrived three days later, as I checked in the evening, asking me to send all the scanned documents. Unfortunately, all my documents were in my village and, even if they had been sent to me, I couldn't send them back due to the extremely slow internet connection.

I wanted someone to help me submit my documents, but to my disappointment, I couldn't get help from the two elderly friends I had contacted on Facebook.

Finally, I remembered my middle school teacher. He agreed to send the documents and fill out the necessary forms. It was almost midnight when, after endless anxiety, I received a PDF file stating that my application was successful.

I express my heartfelt gratitude here, for making a difference. Sometimes, the ripples of a single act of kindness spread far and wide.

In the following days, I received instructions on how to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for admission to law school. I chose Trashigang as my testing location because I needed to take my nephew back to the village, as his school would soon be starting again, and also because Trashigang was close to Samdrup Jongkhar, where I lived.

It was on March 3, 2017, that I received a call from the United States. The prospect of going there was both exciting and daunting. I was in a bad mood for most of the day, until I received a call from the law school stating that I was one of the 50 students shortlisted for a face-to-face interview to be held in Thimphu.

That day, I wanted something very badly. I wanted help from the whole world to help everyone.

That's how I stumbled into law school. Maybe because I have something to give back. That's why I'm taking this step to refine, define, and understand my true self. I'm excited to learn how to approach conflicts with different people and help them understand what is right. As a law student, I'm eager to speak with conviction, act with poise, and write with purpose, all skills that are necessary in all aspects of our lives.

This will also help me become a versatile person who is conscientious. It will give me the opportunity to enhance my eloquence and improve my oratory skills. I hope to be able to help my fellow citizens and raise awareness about what is just and right.

Now, here I am. Here we are, all 25 of us.

If you've struggled to get to this point, let me tell you a little about the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law.

The Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law is a product of Bhutan's growth as a nation. It is the solid foundation of Bhutan's history, kept alive through the unwavering desire for a better Bhutan. Students come from all walks of life, from as far as the extreme south, east, and far west, sharing common goals and eventually becoming one big family.

Looking back, February 21, 2015 was a defining moment in Bhutan's history. The idea for the law school must have been in the visionary thoughts of our kings for some time, but it became a reality when the pragmatic actions began to lay the foundation for what we now know as the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law.

The changing socio-political climate demonstrated the need for a strong legal system supported by native Bhutanese lawyers who are thoroughly trained in Bhutanese values, ethics, and culture, while also being well-versed in international affairs.

On that day, with the granting of the Royal Charter from the Golden Throne, the best law school in the world began to take shape for future generations.

The Royal Charter outlines the following: at the heart of the vision lies the epitome of what the law school must be.

"The Charter establishes the law school as an autonomous not-for-profit tertiary educational institution. It sets as the law school's objectives not only to provide legal education but also to facilitate research and to promote cultural enrichment and traditional Bhutanese values. The Charter recognizes the importance of the law school in promoting the rule of law to ensure a fair and just society and, ultimately, to the peaceful co-existence, unity, happiness, and well-being of the Bhutanese people, and the security and sovereignty of the nation."

This charter truly reminds us of why we exist, where we should go, and ultimately what we need to do. It is a path wealthy with the promise of understanding the core of one's life.

The President of this law school is the dynamic, wise, and graceful Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, supported by the Governing Council, chaired by the Chief Justice of Bhutan, Lyonpo Tshering Wangchuk, and the law school administration.

The grand buildings of our school stand on a hill, far from unwanted distractions, at a place called Pangbisa in Paro. It is on the verge of completion.

Until its completion, we are based in Taba, about one and a half kilometers away from the Taba-Dechencholing road. This place is away from the crowds and busy vehicles and is serene, tranquil, and surrounded by pine meadows.

After the establishment of the law school's vision, mission, and policies, what stands out to me is the quality of education we will receive. Our learning will start by carefully questioning the pre-existing and hidden aspects of Bhutanese law, and will be infused with Buddhist values, norms, and philosophy. We will approach matters critically, analytically, and present evidence-based arguments through thoughtful discourse. We are expected to work hard, passionately, and intelligently, and to articulate valuable ideas based on our experiences and deep contemplation. These are the most valuable assets we can have.

To achieve these goals, we are supported by brilliant Western and Bhutanese professors who provide us with a compelling and important vision to live by.

What sets our law school apart from other colleges is not the luxurious dorms or the best infrastructure, but the rich cultural grandeur from the very beginning and the high level of academic discourse guided by the institute's invaluable vision as our guiding star.

The Bhutanese law school offers academic courses on par with internationally renowned law schools, but our unique culture and traditional Bhutanese values are the hallmarks of the school. These values are reflected in courses on traditional education, human values and responsibilities, diverse forms of western legal subjects,, and unique alternative dispute resolutions. Knowing all of this is an obvious gift we receive and in turn a gift to the democratically growing nation.

In addition to the talented teachers and the school's unique and thoughtful steps, the school is governed by a student governing body. The prefects and councilors were selected through electronic voting. These are the best candidates, able and willing to ensure the smooth running of the school, and demonstrate the principles of democracy.

Now, this is the second semester of the first year. As we look back on the events of last semester, I remember that on July 3rd, we were welcomed with enthusiasm for change. We were given grand and elaborate welcoming celebrations in the first few days, and over time, we got to know each other among the 25 of us.

The bridging course or orientation sessions for a month was an amazing experience. The days were filled with introductions, excitement, and visits to significant places.

This was exactly what was best for us. We were given the opportunity to visit the chambers of prominent figures in Bhutan's everyday actions and consequences. This event gave us new directions and reinforced the fact that our faith and fate are inseparably bound. It also made us aware of the important role we will play as future lawyers.

In addition, the busy days also included the initiation of morning and evening prayers and the Drolmai Cho Ku (Ritual of 21 Taras) for two hours every Saturday morning. There was also the weekly Coffee Culture, where with the help of sponsors, we came together in the Recreational Hall to drink coffee and share our struggles, insights, stories, and other valuable ideas. This will help us speak out when the time comes.

We also underwent rigorous discipline training called Driglam Namzha, which is the first step towards making a difference. The days were also filled with visits from lecturers, honorary guests, ministers, and many VIPs.

We were introduced to subjects that we had never studied before, including economics, how to think differently in small ways, tort law, Rigzhung (Ngagdoen and Sumchupa), extensive legal writing, and western philosophy. As I remember, I was mesmerized by how Plato's philosopher king fits our present-day king, who is morally and intellectually fit to rule and has the highest knowledge of reality, goodness, and virtues.

The history of Bhutan is kept alive and has not been forgotten, as the good culture and social harmony have persisted, playing a role in our own Bhutanese way of fully containing a mixed form of government, with a prototype of a federal system in the past and a unitary form in today's arena of running the nation.

At times, we also realized that none of us are as smart as all of us, and we began team-building exercises and accepted the notion of "I am because we are." It is true that the beginning is always the toughest, but it is also true that tough times lead to growth. I admit that studying law is undoubtedly the hardest thing to do, but if it were not challenging, it would not be a hindrance to growth.

I also recall the gracious surprise of the Great Fourth King visiting our campus one evening. He advised us that wherever we go, nothing is more important than our behavior and the manner in which we present ourselves. He told us that even if we are highly learned or have climbed the ladder of success, it is useless if we do not possess values and good behavior. He also advised us not to be meek and to stand our ground to be good human beings. We were so touched by his majesty's counsel.

For a moment, I suddenly realized how blessed we are to have dynamic and far-sighted protectors.

We are the hopes of everyone: the hopes of building better societies, even if only in a small way; the hopes of those who think they have larger roles to play but have not yet achieved them; the hopes of a farmer who wants a good and peaceful life; the hopes of people stuck in injustice looking for brighter days.

Our law school bears the name of the Great Fourth, and this is no small thing for us. It is an enlightening gift that calls upon us to be compassionate, thoughtful, and selfless in our service to the Tsa Wa Sum.

In the coming days, we have a greater role to play in the league. There will be a need to root out corruption, create policies for a harmonious Bhutan, oversee developmental activities, and share common goals with everyone in the country. There is a need for extensive legal research, taking Gross National Happiness to a higher level, and taking wise and pragmatic steps to steer ourselves toward a peaceful and sustainable future.

NB: Wrote this back in second semester/year.