Alum Mounts Everest, Breaks World Record: An Exclusive Interview with Tashi Laskit
By Nawang Phuntsog
A graduate from Siddhartha High School Stok, Tashi Laskit became a part of the first-ever all-girls cadet team that successfully climbed the peak of Mount Everest, marking the expedition a world record. Laskit discusses her experience, along with the obstacles she faced, in the following interview.
Q: How did your interest in mountaineering initiate?
A: Mountains have always been very close to me. When I was younger, my siblings and I would take our herds for grazing in the mountains, so climbing has been a part of my life since childhood.
Q: Why did you decide to climb Mount Everest?
A: When I was in Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Leh, I got the chance to join NCC, the National Cadet Corps. There I got the opportunity to go on a mountaineering course. This was my first step towards the expedition, but I had never expected that I would able to achieve such a milestone in the short period of time since.
Q: How were you trained for the experience?
A: I received training from various mountaineering expeditions. I did my basic course in Darjeeling through NCC. After that, we were given training by Dev-Baba in Manali. In Uttrakhand, we were trained by Trishul, and in the winter we were given winter training at the Siachen Glaciers for three weeks.
Q: What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome those challenges?
A: The most difficult challenge for me was the team selection process for the expedition. There were 100 cadets, and only 10 of us were to be selected. I was chosen in the end because I worked hard.Another challenge took place during our mountaineering course at Khombo Ice Fall. It took 9 hours for us to cross it, but we were fully equipped and well trained, so we were able to succeed.
Q: Did the journey change your perspective on anything in your life?
A: This expedition really changed my perspective towards facing challenges. Before the training, there were times when I thought about giving up, but our instructor always encouraged us to build self-confidence. That’s why I was able to complete this expedition.
Q: Do you have any messages for Ladakhi youth, especially girls, regarding facing challenges?
A: The only thing I would like to share with Ladakhi youth is that apart from regular studies, one must participate in co-curricular activities. Try to know your interests and choose the right field where you think you would fit. There will be challenges and difficulties ,but nothing is impossible if you dream of it and head out to achieve it. As IMPOSSIBLE itself says: I’M POSSIBLE.
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