My life is marked by maturity, independence, resilience, and ambition. Despite facing many struggles, I continue walking toward my dream of becoming a businesswoman who creates employment opportunities and meaningful projects for my community.
Since Grade 1, I have had to rely on myself because my parents were always busy with work. I managed my own studies, arranged tuition classes, and even asked my parents for the fees myself. I still remember one day in Grade 4 when my parents forgot to ask the taxi driver to pick me up from school. As I waited, watching other children leave with their parents, it hurt deeply. But I understood that they were working hard to support our family. Most of my teachers from primary through high school knew me well as a disciplined and determined student, often calling me a “little adult” because of how mature and focused I was.
Growing up, I often overheard conversations about our family’s financial struggles. Although my parents thought I was too young to understand, I felt the weight of those hardships, and from that moment I resolved to rely on myself and work hard, not only for my own future but also for my family.
In 2019, COVID-19 struck and schools shut down. Just as we began to adapt, the military coup in Myanmar made life even more difficult. My dream of studying in the United States seemed impossible due to political instability and currency inflation. I felt my dreams slipping away.
Despite the uncertainty, I decided to support young people facing similar challenges. That mindset helped me discover my leadership potential. I founded a nonprofit organization called Your Educational Researcher (YER) and volunteered as a project coordinator at other youth-led nonprofits, successfully carrying out more than ten projects for the Burmese youth community.
About Wink
- Age: 20
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Walailak University
- Bachelor’s, Business Administration
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a project manager or business owner
- Develop an app providing job listings and mentorship opportunities to Myanmar youth
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,600
- Amount Left To Fund: $4,575
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
At the same time, I attended free English classes and prepared for the GED diploma, which required me to prove my maturity and determination to my parents. After earning the GED, I prepared for the IELTS exam and in 2024 began applying for scholarships. I received a 50% scholarship to study Business Administration at Walailak University in Thailand. I am now in my second year.
In Myanmar, many young people are forced to stop their education due to financial difficulties and end up in low-paying or unethical work. Witnessing this has strengthened my goal of building a bridge between education and employment. I plan to develop an application providing job listings, educational content, and mentorship opportunities to ensure equal access for Myanmar’s youth. I have already begun sharing awareness content online and am committed to scaling this initiative into something sustainable and meaningful.
Written by Wink with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Wink
“I resolved to rely on myself and work hard, not only for my own future but also for my family.”
