Tibetans In Diaspora 128 FT: Ugen Samten | Stories of Tibetans 208 I vividly remember the day my mentor scolded me harshly for touching his scissors, which cost nearly a lakh. At that moment, I was so angry, I made a promise to myself—I would buy one of my own when I started my own business. Now, after years of hard work, I finally did it. I bought the scissors and called my mentor. He responded with a smile, which felt like a full-circle moment. Starting a business wasn't easy. There were countless times I almost gave up. I cried more than I can count, wondering what I was doing with my life. But looking back now, all those struggles have become memories I will cherish forever. Today, I can proudly say I own the first-ever modern, fully equipped salon in the Tibetan community. It feels good to call myself a Tibetan entrepreneur who has achieved something this significant. But, of course, success didn’t come overnight. It took me years of preparation and dedication to get to where I am today. Now, I own a two-story salon with a team of around 16 staff members. Despite this success, I believe that inner beauty is far more important than outward appearance. With money, anyone can fix how they look, but inner beauty—becoming a truly good human being—is something that takes a lifetime to cultivate, and it can’t be bought. Looking ahead, I want to expand beyond the Tibetan community. In the next one or two years, I plan to move out of Majnu Ka Tilla. But dreams like these require patience and determination. I’ve trained many young Tibetans, but most of them lack the patience necessary for success. When you lack patience, things don’t work out. I try to tell them my story—that I spent years working as an assistant, and I used to travel across 60 train stations daily, back and forth, as an intern. But they don’t believe me. Maybe you won’t either. But the truth is, my current success is the result of my patience and determination. As a Tibetan, I’ve faced many hurdles, including discrimination in the workplace when I worked for other companies. Yet, I’ve noticed that when I mention I come from the land of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the respect I receive is different. It’s a privilege I don’t take for granted. Interview and edit by Kunsang Tenzing Special thanks to Yewong Salon staffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #Storiesoftibetans #Tibetanrefugee #refugee #dalailama #exile #humanstory #streetsandstories #Tibetanexile #Salon #Hairspa #Spa #beauty #Lifelesson