Born in Bhutanese Refugee Camp, 22-Year-Old Shabya Bista Soars in USA as a Young Woman from the Community to Become a Pilot
From a refugee camp in Nepal to the skies above America, Shabya Bista’s journey breaks barriers and inspires a community.
Born in Nepal in 2003 to parents who were themselves born in Bhutan but forced to flee during the mass eviction of ethnic Nepalis in the early 1990s, Shabya’s story is deeply rooted in the struggles and resilience of her people. Her parents, Gopal Bista and Neeru Bista, married in Beldangi Refugee Camp in eastern Nepal, where life was defined by hardship but also by the unbreakable bonds of community.
Shabya attended her primary school in the Beldangi 2 Refugee Camp until the age of seven. In 2010, she and her entire family were resettled in the United States as part of what the UNHCR has described as the largest and most successful resettlement operation in its history—relocating over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees between 2008 and 2016. The Bista family has since made their home in Nashville, Tennessee, where Shabya grew up embracing both her Bhutanese heritage and her new American identity.
On May 9, 2025, Shabya graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Aerospace, specializing in Professional Pilot training. She has already taken her career to the next level and is now working as a flight instructor, guiding new students while continuing to sharpen her own skills in the cockpit.
Though in recent years we have witnessed numerous achievements by the younger generation of our community in the field of education across resettlement countries—particularly in the USA—this accomplishment may represent one of the greatest inroads yet for the Bhutanese refugee community in this sector.
Her journey from a refugee camp in Nepal to the skies over America is nothing short of extraordinary. For the Bhutanese refugee community, which has endured decades of displacement and struggle, Shabya’s accomplishment is more than personal success—it’s a collective victory and a source of pride.
The achievement, however, carries a bittersweet note. Her grandfather, Ganesh Bahadur Bista, whose last wish was to witness his granddaughter’s graduation as a pilot, passed away a year ago. Before his death, he asked his wife—Chandra Bista, Shabya’s grandmother—to attend the ceremony on his behalf, ensuring that his love, pride, and presence would still be felt on that day.
When the day finally came, her proud father Gopal Bista, proud mother Neeru Bista, grandmother Chandra Bista, and other family members were present to watch her graduate as a pilot. Adding to the joy, the family had an unforgettable experience a few months earlier when they flew together on an airplane to Ohio—a symbolic moment, as they celebrated Shabya’s growing career in aviation by taking to the skies as a family.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder: even from the most challenging beginnings, dreams can take flight—literally.