Reflecting on my life as an orphan, I have come to realize that responsibility and accountability are two things I have learned since my early years of life. I worked hard to achieve outstanding grades, hoping to gain entry to a prestigious university and a well-paid career. After scoring highly on the matriculation exam, I secured a place at the University of Information Technology, one of the Centers of Excellence universities in Myanmar.
With my interest in computer science growing, I worked hard to familiarize myself with different programming languages while developing websites and projects with my classmates as part of the coursework.
I also explored extracurricular activities to broaden my experience. I served as a team coordinator in a national robot competition, which helped me sharpen my multitasking and problem-solving skills.
It was also satisfying to serve as an organizer at BarCamp 2020, one of Asia’s largest tech conferences and the biggest BarCamp in the world that year. This was a momentous experience that gave me hands-on exposure to promotion, logistics, infrastructure, and communication.
Crucially, while my education was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup, I took on freelance work to invest in my future and manage my finances. Working as a front-end developer intern gave me a sense of what it is like to work with international colleagues while tackling a wide range of technical challenges.
As I delved deeper into the field, I realized there was far more to computer science than programming and software development. I became fascinated by the potential of robotics and AI to transform the way we live and address some of the world’s biggest challenges.
About Ei San
- Age: 25
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
- Bachelor’s, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Engineering
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a AI engineer
- Found my own company
- Learn to sing
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $6,350
- Amount Left To Fund: $6,250
- Contract Duration: 13 years
- Status: In School
After much consideration, I decided to pursue studies at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, majoring in Robotics and AI Engineering. The first semester was challenging, as I had to work to cover my living expenses alongside my studies. Even so, I persevered. One of my projects placed second in a robotics competition, and I achieved the Tourism Case Winner award at the International Summer School and Hackathon on Technology and Sustainability 2022 in Thailand, which brought me mentorship from a number of well-known technical executives and developers.
After graduating, I plan to work for a leading company using AI to develop innovative solutions for sustainability challenges. I will continue to build my skills in robotics and AI engineering, collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations. In the long run, I aspire to found my own company that leverages AI to address critical sustainability challenges in Myanmar. I also hope to bridge the gap between technology and society by creating outreach programs and mentorship initiatives that introduce young students from underprivileged backgrounds to emerging technologies and inspire them to pursue careers in STEM.
Written by Ei San with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Ei San
“I became fascinated by the potential of robotics and AI to transform the way we live and address some of the world’s biggest challenges.”