Being the eldest daughter in my family, the expectations my parents had for me were immense. Significant academic achievements, a successful social life, and a strong reputation were all part of the future they envisioned for me. For a long time, I was on track to fulfill those dreams, and the whole family was proud.
That changed on a dull, rainy day when the results of the matriculation exam were announced. It was the first time I had failed to meet their expectations, falling short of the marks needed to qualify for medical university. That moment made me stop and ask myself where my real interests and strengths lay.
My parents hoped I would attend dental or pharmacy school, but I decided to apply to the University of Information Technology, drawn by a small spark of interest in computer science. That small spark quickly grew into something much bigger.
Within weeks, I found myself fully immersed in the subject, understanding lessons easily and feeling no burden in my choice of major. My passion grew brighter year by year, and my academic results improved with it.
I threw myself into university activities and events, and developed a new interest in learning languages, including Japanese, Korean, and German, which I began studying on my own. However, a year lost to COVID-19 and further time lost to political disruption in Myanmar added up to roughly three years away from my studies, leaving my future uncertain once again.
During that period, I joined volunteer programs and began building my career. Despite my computer science background, my first job was in student administration and operations. Working in the same organization over several years helped me discover new strengths and passions. In time, financial pressures grew. A 40% cut in my father’s wages, the family’s main source of income, made it very difficult to get by, and my own earnings could not cover the daily expenses of five people.
About Swel Swel
- Age: 25
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Rangsit University
- Bachelor’s, Information & Communication Technology
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Educate underprivileged students in computer science
- Travel to Europe
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $1,175
- Amount Left To Fund: $1,150
- Contract Duration: 10 years
- Status: In School
Even so, my parents did not give up on my studies abroad. When I told them I had received a 50% scholarship from Rangsit University in Thailand, they were ready to sell everything to cover the rest. After some struggle and sacrifice, I arrived safely in Thailand.
Six months here have made my direction clear. I have not once doubted my choice of major or my decision to move to a new country. Despite the difficulties I continue to face, I am certain that I can fulfill my dream of becoming a developer and helping underprivileged students access computer science education.
Written by Swel Swel with editing assistance from Holland, one of Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Swel Swel
“A small spark of interest resulted in me becoming immersed in computer science after only a few weeks of study… As time went on, my passion burned brighter and brighter, resulting in improved academic performance year by year.”
