Yonten Thinley joined at age 19, and hails from Xinghai, northwestern Qinghai. He had never studied art, but always wanted to, and had heard about me from a monk relative of his/friend of mine. His first year was a bit of a struggle, he seemed sullen and had difficulty fitting in, but after a trip we all took together to attend an art conference I had helped organise in Chengdu, he seemed to settle into his skin, and turned into a helpful, kind young lad. He graduates October 15, 2017.