My Story: From “I” to “We”
My name is E. Khorolnyam, and I am 18 years old. I was born and raised in a herder family. I was a very quiet, socially reserved, and shy girl when I graduated in 2019 from the 9th grade at the general secondary school in Jargalant Bagh, Uyanga soum, Uvurkhangai province, and enrolled in the Polytechnic College of Uvurkhangai province.
There are few opportunities in life that should be missed, and one such opportunity that came my way was being selected for the “Entrepreneurship-Focused Socio-Emotional Skills for the Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia” project, implemented by Save the Children. I was thrilled to hear from my class teacher that this project would be launched for the first time in Arvaikheer soum, Uvurkhangai province, and that it would take place specifically at my school. Excited, I registered and participated in the training. At first, I didn’t think I would be selected, as so many children were eager to join. So, when I found out that I was one of the 20 chosen participants, I was overjoyed. I felt immense pride when I successfully completed the 8-week ESEL program and received my certificate.
I learned the importance of teamwork. Previously, I had always prepared for and participated in competitions on my own, not as part of a team. As a result, I quickly realized my lack of teamwork skills during the first week of training. In this project, each team member took on their responsibilities, listened attentively to one another, respected each other’s opinions, and together, we created lasting memories throughout the training.
I was honored to be invited to participate in and deliver a speech at the opening of the “Experience-sharing workshop of Polytechnic colleges and TVET schools implementing the ESEL program” in Ulaanbaatar last January. Currently, I work at the “Uvlive” news site in Uvurkhangai province. My dream is to become a TV anchor. Inspired by television anchors and newscasters, I decided that I, too, would pursue this profession. Step by step, I am moving forward with energy and determination to fulfill my dream. I am confident that I will continue to grow and develop in the future.
This project has brought about real change, offering us the opportunity to transform our innovative ideas into a project proposal based on the knowledge and skills we’ve gained. If we meet the criteria, we can receive a subgrant to launch a startup business.
When I first joined the project, I had little knowledge of financial literacy, personal organization, or even the psychological traits of myself, my peers, and my siblings. As a result, I faced many challenges, such as misunderstandings and making poor decisions. However, our trainers provided invaluable support, helping me overcome these issues.
Our friends, believing that every child should be able to express themselves and solve problems, learned to integrate this principle into their daily lessons. They identified their own mistakes and strengths and used them to write their project proposals. Additionally, they learned how to effectively present their proposals to others.
E.Khorolnyam with Mr.Enkh-Amgalan L, Minister for Education and Science during the “Experience Sharing Workshop of Polytechnic Colleges and TVET schools implementing the ESEL Program” (2023.01.24)
E. Khorolnyam, student of Uvurkhangai Polytechnic College, graduate of the ESEL program
We are successfully implementing our “Dream Party” project as a team. We’ve set an ambitious goal to participate in both large and small projects and programs announced at the provincial level in the future, with the aim of expanding our project and eventually establishing a private company. I love the quote by Simon Sinek: “Dream big, start small, but start with what matters most.” I believe there are no untalented people—only those who haven’t yet overcome their fears and doubts. I used to be timid, often hiding behind the word “shy.” However, gradually overcoming this limitation in a new school and environment was the beginning of my success.
To my peers and younger children, I urge you to stay true to your beliefs, pursue your goals with determination, and be courageous and persistent in overcoming the challenges you encounter. Let’s learn from one another and create together!