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Montrose Daily Press :Caitlin Switzer
MONTROSE - On Oct. 24, 2000, Tibetan teen Jigchen Tso set out to escape from the repressive Communist rule in her homeland. As she attempted to cross the border from Tibet into Nepal, however, she was shot by Chinese police and nearly lost one leg.
While recovering from her injuries at the Tibetan Refugee Center, Tso became friends with travelers Bill and Nora Duckworth of Montrose, who were visiting Nepal at the time.
Although the odds were against them, the Duckworths decided to see what they could do.
"Everybody said we would never get her out," Duckworth said.
However, officials in Nepal and the United States eventually relented, and Tso was able to travel to the United States in 2001. She has lived in Montrose ever since, as a member of the Duckworth family.
After taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and becoming familiar with her adopted country, Tso enrolled as a full-time student at Montrose High School in January of 2003. Although it was difficult to learn in an unfamiliar language, she did not give up.
Today, the young woman who managed to escape one of the world's most repressive regimes has accomplished another seemingly impossible goal-she graduated from Montrose High School yesterday.
"It is exciting, and at the same time sad," Tso said. "I will miss my teachers probably. They have been so nice and helpful. I love all of my teachers."
New goals include completing a Certified Nurses Assistant program in Delta, and enrolling at Mesa State College for an English class and a physical education course in hiking.
Does she plan to stay in Montrose?
"Yeah," Tso said. "I love my family, Bill and Nora. And this is a peace town, compared to others." |
