When Pioneer High School senior Nebi Bhattarai stepped onto the stage at Woodland High School stadium late last month, she wasn’t just being recognized for being multilingual; she was making district history.

At the Woodland Joint Unified School District’s annual Multilingual Achievement Ceremony held on Monday, April 28, Bhattarai was recognized for being the first student in WJUSD history to be honored as quadrilingual, earning the State Seal of Biliteracy for proficiency in Nepali, English, Hindi, and Spanish.

“Being recognized as quadrilingual means a lot to me,” Bhattarai said. “Each language represents a part of who I am and how I connect with the world around me. Earning the seals wasn’t just about passing the tests. It was about honoring my roots, expanding my voice, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I’m proud to make history and hope it inspires others to embrace their languages, too.”

Bhattarai’s multilingual journey began in Nepal, where she learned Nepali at home and English in school. Then, her love of Hindi grew from watching Bollywood movies and cartoons.

“The reason I can understand and speak Hindi today is because I grew up watching movies, listening to songs, and watching cartoons in Hindi,” she said. “Even as young as five years old, I loved Hindi movies. To this day, I still watch the latest Bollywood movies and songs.”

Three years ago, she moved to the United States, where she was introduced to Spanish as an option for the World Language requirement in school. But what started as a requirement quickly became a meaningful pursuit.

“As I went through high school living in Woodland, I realized how much I would miss out on if I couldn’t communicate in Spanish,” she said. “It became more than just a class; it became a way to truly connect with the community around me.”

Being multilingual also came with challenges. Bhattarai recalled moments of feeling self-conscious about her accent or unsure if she was using the “right” version of English. Spanish brought a different kind of hurdle; learning a new language while surrounded by fluent speakers.

“I remember feeling left out when I couldn’t understand everything being said around me,” she said. “But I kept going. I knew learning the language would help me feel more connected.”

Now, as the district’s first-ever quadrilingual student, she encourages others not to let fear or doubt get in their way.

“Never be afraid to try,” she said. “I know so many people who speak other languages but doubt themselves. I had only written in Hindi a couple of times in my life, but I still gave the test a shot, and I passed. If I had let fear stop me, I wouldn’t be here sharing this story.”

Bhattarai was one of nearly 620 WJUSD students recognized at the district’s Multilingual Achievement ceremony on April 28, which honors students from kindergarten to high school for their achievement toward becoming bilingual and bi-literate.

Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin emphasized the district’s commitment to multilingualism as a vital tool for connection and leadership in a diverse society.

“Language is a bridge between people and cultures, and these students are building bridges every day,” Ortega-Lampkin said. “We are incredibly proud of Nebi and all of our bilingual graduates who are learning to use their voices to connect, lead, and serve in our diverse community.”

Bhattarai plans to continue studying Spanish in college and hopes to use her language skills to connect with more people in her future career.

“I genuinely enjoy immersing myself in different cultures,” she said. “Being multilingual has always been my fun fact on the first day of school. But now, it’s something I carry with deep pride.”