My name is Sue. I am a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science at Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
I am the first member of my family to attend university. I have three siblings and live with my parents. My two sisters only completed primary school, and my brother will attend high school next year. My father made me leave school after primary education, as he did with my sisters, because he believed that girls should not pursue higher education.
This affected me deeply and made me question why girls should not continue their education, especially when I was doing well in school. Later, I was able to return to high school with financial support from relatives, as my parents could not afford it.
After graduating, the most difficult challenge was continuing to university without support.
I initially attended university in Myanmar for one year but realized that I was not gaining meaningful knowledge. At the same time, I volunteered at Phaung Daw Monastic Education High School, a school that provides free education and promotes critical thinking and English skills for students from diverse backgrounds.
I volunteered there for about two years as an assistant teacher, helping promote higher education and critical thinking training.
During those two years, I also supported professional trainers delivering workshops in monastic schools and worked to encourage both girls and boys in rural areas to continue their education. Through this experience, I realized how limited the government education system was and decided not to continue my studies in Myanmar.
About Sue
- Age: 27
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Hertie School
- Master’s, Public Policy
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Empower women and improve women’s rights
- Provide education to girls
- Spend less time on social media
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $6,300
- Amount Left To Fund: $6,150
- Contract Duration: 13 years
- Status: In Deferment
In 2017, I was selected for the Pre-College Program in Mandalay, funded by Child’s Dream, where I studied social science, development, economics, and innovation. This strengthened my interest in social science and development.
After completing the program, I applied for a scholarship and was accepted to study Social Science at Chiang Mai University, where I am now in my third year.
Growing up, I faced many obstacles as a girl pursuing education. These challenges made me stronger and helped me believe in myself. I also showed my parents, especially my father, that a girl can succeed through education.
In the future, I hope to work in women’s rights and girls’ education. I want to inspire and support other girls who face similar challenges, helping them pursue their goals and build better opportunities for themselves.
Written by Sue with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Sue
“After I finish the degree, I would like to work for women’s rights and girls’ education. ”