My name is Non. I was born in Myanmar but grew up in Thailand, where my aunts used to work. Both of my parents died when I was very young, and I was left in the care of my aunt. She took care of me and sent me to Wat Chet Yot School for my primary education. I then continued my secondary education at Wattanothaipayap School.
Unfortunately, my aunt died in a car accident when I was in the third grade of secondary school. I then moved in with a friend of my aunt’s and have been working to support myself since then. Fortunately, I received a scholarship to study through the end of high school, so I only needed to work to cover living expenses.
Because I am not a Thai citizen, it has always been difficult for me to find work. I could only find jobs washing dishes, serving food, and similar work, and the income was not enough to cover my living expenses. I kept applying for many jobs, but with the documents I was holding, not many employers would accept me. Some people took pity on me and offered me opportunities, and during semester breaks and after school, I worked at a gas station, as a cashier, as a maid, and sold clothes at the flea market. These jobs helped me save some money toward my university education.
Without Thai citizenship, it is also difficult to get a quality education, find a good job, and get by in Thailand. I have missed opportunities because of a lack of legal documentation. But against all odds, I was admitted to Far Eastern University, majoring in Digital Technology.
About Non
- Age: 25
- Ethnicity:
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- The Far Eastern University
- Bachelor’s, Digital Technology
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a programmar
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $7,600
- Amount Left To Fund: $4,150
- Contract Duration: 13 years
- Status: In Repayment (Late 30)
I chose to take classes on Saturdays and Sundays so I could work on weekdays. In my first year, I made sandwiches and sold them at the traffic lights in the morning for three hours, then worked as a cashier in the evenings, and studied at night. Despite all of this, I got very good grades.
When the COVID pandemic hit Thailand, I could no longer sell sandwiches at the traffic lights, and my income dropped. I was completely lost and began looking for other options. Then, to my delight, Yellow Coworking Space, where I had begun working, introduced me to Zomia.
I will try my best to finish my degree and find a good job after graduation. With that income, I hope to one day help other students who are in a similar situation to mine.
Written by Non with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Non
“Without Thai citizenship, it is also difficult to get a quality education, find a good job, and get by in Thailand. I have missed opportunities because of a lack of legal documentation. But against all odds, I was admitted to Far Eastern University, majoring in Digital Technology.”
