On the wall above my study table, there used to be a row of sticky notes carrying my little dreams. Among them, one note stood out written in my simple handwriting when I was in class six: “Advocate Pushpa Neupane.” Every time I sat down to study, my eyes fell on it, reminding me of the future I wished for. That note stayed with me for years. On 15 April 2024, the dream written on that small piece of paper finally came true, when I received my bar license.
The journey to that day was not easy. Though I always wanted to study law, my parents hoped I would choose medicine. So, I studied science in higher secondary school, even while secretly holding on to my dream. After finishing school, I gathered courage and appeared in the entrance exam to study law. To my joy, I was among the top 20 students selected.
My years in law school were filled with late nights, endless reading, and moments of self-doubt. There were times when the books felt too heavy, the cases too complicated, and the future too uncertain. Yet, every time I felt like giving up, I looked at that sticky note on my wall and I pushed myself to keep going. Step by step, I completed my B.A.LL.B. degree and stood on the verge of realising the dream I had nurtured since childhood.
When the bar exam results were published, my heart raced as I searched for my name. The moment I saw it on the list, my happiness was beyond words. That sticky note on my wall had turned into reality. I ran straight to the kitchen where my parents were. With tears in their eyes, they listened as I proudly said, “From today, I am Advocate Pushpa Neupane.” In that moment, I felt a new identity added to my name.
The final day of training at the Nepal Bar Council remains one of the brightest days of my life. My mother helped me drape my saree that I wore with a black coat. She clicked my photos that morning, and I could see how much happiness shone in her eyes.
The moment I wore the lawyer’s badge and held my certificate in my hands, I felt the joy of finally becoming who I was meant to be. That day was even more special because I shared it with my dearest friends, who had walked the same path and received their certificates alongside me.
Becoming Advocate Pushpa Neupane was not just the achievement of a goal, it was the fulfillment of a dream that started with a small sticky note on my wall. And more than that, it was the beginning of a lifelong responsibility to serve justice, stand for truth, and make a positive difference in society.
