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NGI Recipient: Tirsana Paudel 

Session Attended: Royal Scottish Country Dance Society - Scottish Session II (2015)

My name is Tirsana Paudel and I was a recipient of the NGI scholarship that enabled me to attend 2015 Pinewoods Scottish Session II. I really enjoyed my time at camp, from the classes to the balls and the relaxation in-between. I would also like to point out that as a person of color in a place that was primarily dominated by a particular demographic, I never once felt that I was out of place or wasn’t welcome. It was a happy and educational atmosphere and I will cherish the memories that I made with it.

As someone who had started dancing only a year before, I found the classes at Pinewoods engaging and challenging. The instructors were all helpful and there was so much that I picked up from their teachings. Swimming in the lake was amazing, especially after the humidity and rigor of the classes that I took. I especially enjoyed and admired the musicians, and found it amazing that so many different people from all around the world had found something that they truly loved and enjoyed, and were lucky enough to find others to share these moments with.

Thank you so much for awarding me the scholarship that allowed me to experience Pinewoods, and I am looking forward to returning in the future.