My name is Acacia. I come from Myitkyina, in Kachin State, Myanmar. When I was eight years old, my parents made a heart-wrenching decision that changed my life—they sent me to live with a teacher in the city so I could access a better education. It was the first time I understood the meaning of sacrifice. I cried almost every night, missing my parents deeply, but I knew they did it out of love, because they wanted a better future for me.
In 2022, I came to Thailand to study Business Administration at Mae Fah Luang University. It was both exciting and terrifying. I arrived in a new environment, far from home, without a single familiar face. During my first year, I felt completely lost. I carried trauma from earlier years, especially from a time when I lived in a boarding house and experienced emotional harm from people I should have been able to trust. I became closed off, unsure of myself, and my confidence slowly faded.
At the same time, my parents were doing everything they could to support me, despite having limited resources and never finishing school themselves. I kept my emotional struggles to myself—I didn’t want to worry them or make their burden heavier. I am the eldest child and the first in my family to study abroad. Even among my extended relatives, no one had ever walked this path before. I had no role models, no one to guide me. I felt alone, confused, and unsure of where I truly belonged.
Things became even harder in 2024. A major flood hit our region, and ever since, the mobile network and internet in my hometown have been down. My parents now have to travel to internet shops and pay just to send me a message or hear my voice. Sometimes we only get to talk for a few minutes before the connection drops. It breaks my heart knowing they go through all of that just to stay in touch with me.
Through all of this, I have slowly regained my strength. In my third year at university, I began to reflect deeply on my journey and realized how far I have come—not despite the hardship, but because of it.
About Acacia
- Age: 23
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Business’s Administration
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a business consultant
- Travel to Europe, including Italy
- Witness the Northern Lights
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,700
- Amount Left To Fund: $1,925
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In Grace Period
My parents gave everything they had, even though they had so little, so I could have a better life. I want to honor that sacrifice by completing my education and using it to support others like me, especially those from communities where dreams often feel out of reach.
After graduation, I hope to work in marketing or human resources, building a stable foundation for my family. I also have a younger sister, more than six years younger than me, and I want to be someone she can look up to. One day, I hope to take full responsibility for her education and well-being—just as my parents did for me.
Written by Acacia with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Acacia
“My parents gave everything they had, even though they had so little, so I could have a better life. I want to honor that sacrifice by completing my education and using it to support others like me.”
