A nomad’s journey: from Mongolia to a Masters at UQ

Myadagmaa Mishigdorj’s earliest memories are of the snow-capped Altai mountains, bordering the remote western plains of Mongolia where she and her family moved with the seasons.

Born into the nomadic Khalkh ethnic group, Myadagmaa – also known as Maggie – grew up riding horses, milking cows and herding sheep across the open steppe. 

“We lived in a traditional Mongolian ger, without running water or electricity,” Maggie said. 

“Every 3 months we would move the livestock to better grass for grazing. 

“Winters were often as cold as minus 50 degrees Celsius and knee-high snow.

“Even in those early years I had a dream to study abroad – it felt like something very far away, but I held onto that in my heart.”

This week Maggie realised her dream, graduating from UQ’s School of Education with a Master of Educational Studies (Guidance, Counselling and Careers). 

Following a dream of education

Maggie’s early childhood was centred on her family and their nomadic way of life.

“We had about a thousand head of livestock – horses, cows, sheep, goats and camels,” Maggie said.

“It was mostly the children’s job to take care of the baby animals, and to prepare different dairy products. 

“I would get up before sunrise with my mother to milk not only the cows, sheep and goats but the horses as well.

“We use mare’s milk to make our national drink, ‘airag’, which is fermented and slightly alcoholic, but very cool and refreshing.”

Maggie said she started teaching herself English while herding sheep.

“I had a small book like a dictionary with pictures, and I used to carry it with me and repeat the English words to myself while I walked miles and miles,” she said.

“I started at the village school when I was 9, riding 2 hours on horseback to get there and tying my horse to the fence outside while I did my lessons.

“Later I moved into a school dormitory to continue my education.

“That’s when I first saw British and American movies and a different world from where we lived, and thought I’d like to travel.”

At 18, Maggie went to university in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar.

“It was a big city and where I tried my first coffee, my first makeup and my first bus ride,” she recalls.

“As a traditional Mongol with very long braided hair and big rosy cheeks from the extreme temperatures on the land I looked a bit different from the other girls.”

Maggie said her university years further fuelled her urge to travel.

“As a student I worked as a tourist guide and got to meet people from all over the world,” she said.

“It made me determined to move overseas and continue my education.”

In the meantime, Maggie met her husband and had their eldest daughter but never gave up on her dream.

She worked for 6 months in the United States but found it wasn’t for her. 

Returning to Mongolia, Maggie started a travel agency and convinced her economist husband to work with her while they planned their next move.

“I got work as a school counsellor and it was there that I identified a gap,” Maggie said.

“High schools in Mongolia aren’t geared towards guiding students to tertiary education overseas,” she said.

“If you want to study at a world class institution, there isn’t a ready pathway.

“That’s how I chose career counselling as the field of study for my Masters course and set my sights on UQ.”

Looking to the future

Maggie said her story was part of a changing Mongolia. 

“Around 30 per cent of Mongolia’s population is nomadic, but those parents now send their children to school in the cities because they want them to have an easier life,” she said.

“It means we’re losing our heritage and nomadic lifestyle because eventually there will be nobody continuing that culture.

“My childhood as a nomadic girl was special and happy, but I wanted something different for my future.”

Maggie said her graduation from UQ is a significant milestone for herself and her family.

“My parents have travelled outside Mongolia for the first time to attend my graduation ceremony which is incredibly special,” she said.

“Seeing how much they have sacrificed through their lives, it’s important to make them proud.”

Maggie is now set to further her studies with a PhD focused on researching first-generation university students, thanks to UQ Graduate Research School Scholarship.

Her longer term plans involve returning to Mongolia. 

“I want to support other underrepresented students who may not always have clear guidance about higher education,” Maggie said. 

“My journey has been long and challenging but I hope my story can encourage other first-generation students to believe their dreams are possible, no matter where they start.”