I am Poe, a Business Administration student at Mae Fah Luang University. As a child, I was an ordinary student in Myanmar, attending school with friends, laughing in corridors full of dreams and plans for the future. I come from a middle-class family, and my parents worked hard to keep our lives stable. Ever since I was young, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer — defending justice as a career.
Everything changed in 2021 when the sudden coup disrupted my country. Formal education became impossible to continue, so I focused on studying for the GED, passing the exam with pure determination within four months. While I was enjoying that accomplishment, my parents’ business began to collapse due to the economic downturn sweeping the country.
As safety risks in Myanmar increased, my family made the difficult decision to move to Thailand. The transition brought enormous hardship: my mother had to give up her job, excessive rent and visa fees drained our savings, and we lost our home. Among the things left behind was my piano, which had always brought me happiness and comfort. Leaving the house felt like saying goodbye to life as it had been.
Despite these challenges, I never allowed myself to become discouraged. I applied to Mae Fah Luang University, and although my dream of law school felt out of reach, I chose to pursue my second passion: business. I saw it as a path to personal and family independence while making a meaningful impact on society. My father’s tireless commitment to supporting us motivated me to approach my studies with the same enthusiasm he showed every day.
About Poe
- Age: 21
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Business Administration
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Find a job in business management
- Travel to Edinburgh
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,525
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,400
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
After two years of university, life dealt another blow. My father lost his job, and I began to feel the pressure of an uncertain future. I applied for scholarships to help cover my studies and volunteered as a narrator for local media, gaining valuable experience while contributing to the community.
Looking at my life, I realize it consists of goodbyes and cycles of high and low. Although I find the struggle hard most of the time, I keep focusing and believing that I will find my way through. I am not only a student; I am a survivor, fighting in the middle of the night for a better life.
Written by Poe with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Poe
“I am not only a student; I am a survivor, fighting in the middle of the night for a better life.”
