Upama Rai taught at Shree Satkanyadevi Basic School, Panchpokhari Thangpal-04, Bhotang.

She considered herself an average student but always ranked within the top 10 in her class. She did not claim to be extremely hardworking but enjoyed playing as a child. One of her proudest achievements in school was being recognized for her command of English. She vividly remembered a day when her English teacher read her essay on the festival of "Dashain" aloud to the class. That moment filled her with pride and confidence. She had always been an English teacher’s pet, and that recognition reinforced her belief that she could articulate and communicate well in English. Her passion for both grammar and literature played a crucial role in this, though she wished her school had placed more emphasis on English literature. Nonetheless, she made the most of the curriculum available.

Becoming a Saathi Teacher allowed her to explore the public school system in different parts of the country. Having studied in a private school, she was acutely aware of the disparities between private and government schools. She felt privileged to have received a quality education and wanted to contribute, even in a small way, to bridging the gap in educational inequality. She was eager to learn and explore how much children in rural schools could achieve with just a little support and encouragement.

She aimed to complete her journey with the satisfaction that she had sparked a quest for knowledge in her students. She wanted them to discover their potential through hard work and the pursuit of knowledge. Her goal was to make learning enjoyable, instill a passion for education, and raise her students’ awareness of their environment and society.