Tensel Kyi

My name is Tensel Kyi. I am originally from Amdo, a province in Tibet where His Holiness the Dalai Lama was born. Later, I moved to Tibet’s capital city, Lhasa, where the Potala Palace is located. Due to the political situation in Tibet, I escaped to India as a child in search of a better education under the guidance of the Dalai Lama’s institution.

I completed my schooling and earned two Bachelor’s degrees in India by May 2018. That fall, I was awarded a Fulbright Exchange Program scholarship and began studying at Hampshire College in the U.S. There, I focused on Cognitive Psychology, earning a BA in “Autobiographical Memory and Culture” under the guidance of Professors Melissa Burch, Cindy Gill, and Lura Wenk. My studies included brain mechanisms, human physiology and biology, learning theories, the intersection of science and religion, music, and culture.

After graduation, I completed my OPT (Optional Practical Training), which allows international students to gain practical work experience. During that time, I also began coursework in Early Childhood Education (ECE) at Holyoke and Greenfield Community Colleges. This July, I will complete my Director Certification in ECE. Despite the challenges of being new to the U.S. and overcoming language barriers, I remain determined to pursue higher education and grow as an educator.

About children: Since fifth grade, I’ve been inspired by Mother Teresa’s life story, which I first encountered in a comic book in Tibetan. Her compassion for young children deeply moved me. I’ve always loved children and found myself more connected to them than to older peers growing up.

While working toward my ECE certification, I’ve taken courses such as:

1. Introduction to Early Childhood Education
2. Creative Thinking and Learning
3. Inclusion and Accommodation
4. Understanding and Guiding Behavior
5. Early Childhood Curriculum
6. Child Development
7. Student Teaching 8. ECE Administration, etc. 

Working with children while studying has allowed me to blend theory and practice. This hands-on experience has given me meaningful insights into children’s development and helped me grow both professionally and personally.

To me, children are not just learners—I see them as co-learners. They teach me about themselves through their interactions and daily communication, and in doing so, they help me become a better learner. My personal goal in this field is to work with compassion and cultural understanding, always placing the child at the center of attention.