Growing up in Myanmar, I learned very early that education can change a person’s future. My parents are descendants of farming families from Meiktila and Budalin Townships, but after their marriage, they worked as physical workers at a potato wholesale and retail center near Zay Cho in Mandalay. Because of financial difficulties, my parents were allowed to live at the workplace to minimize living expenses and save money for the education of their children.
Watching my parents work long hours every day helped me understand the value of hard work, sacrifice, and resilience. Growing up in such an environment also allowed me to grasp how limited access to education can affect the future of many young people in Myanmar.
I pursued my undergraduate studies at Mandalay University of Foreign Languages, majoring in French. However, university life was financially challenging. In 2018, while still studying, I started working as a part-time English and French language trainer to support myself and reduce the burden on my family. During this period, I also participated in educational opportunities such as the English Access Micro-Scholarship Program supported by the U.S. Embassy in Yangon. Balancing work and studies was not easy, but it taught me responsibility, independence, and perseverance.
After graduating, the COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty for many in Myanmar, including myself. Instead of giving up my educational goals, I applied to the fully funded Pre-College Program at Phaung Daw Oo International University in 2021. Through the program, I explored social sciences, leadership, critical thinking, and community engagement. More importantly, I started seeing education not only as personal achievement, but also as a tool to empower communities.
About Nicholas
- Age: 27
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Asian Institute of Technology
- Master’s, Business Analytics & Digital Transformation
- 2nd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Establish a full-facility language school
- Travel to France
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,425
- Amount Left To Fund: $4,425
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
Since 2018, I have continued working in education as an English and French instructor. At Phaung Daw Oo International University, I served as a volunteer instructor, IELTS trainer, service-learning coordinator, and program coordinator. Besides teaching, I supported students with scholarship applications and university admissions. Many of my students later received scholarships and admission opportunities in Myanmar and abroad.
Through service-learning activities, I also organized educational outreach programs in my father’s village and rural communities, where students gained access to English language learning, debate activities, health awareness, and environmental awareness education.
In 2025, I participated in the PSEN Student-Led Research Fellowship, where our team researched the challenges encountered by nonprofit schools in Myanmar in implementing digital learning platforms. Through this experience, I became increasingly interested in educational accessibility, digital learning, and community development. Later, I joined the YSEALI Academic Fellowship in the United States, where I learned from environmental education and community engagement initiatives related to the Truckee River Watershed in Reno and cleanup activities at the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami. These experiences strengthened my belief that education, technology, and community collaboration can work together to create positive social impact.
Inspired by both my educational experiences and research findings, I later founded Avalon NextGen EmpowerEd Initiative, an online educational initiative that collaborates with former students and peers studying in Thailand and Indonesia. Through this initiative, we provide language learning opportunities, scholarship guidance, university admission support, academic consultation, and digital learning opportunities for Myanmar students and underserved learners. Although the initiative is still developing, it represents my commitment to making education more accessible to those who face barriers similar to those I experienced.
Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics and Digital Transformation at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. However, my educational journey has been disrupted by the political situation in Myanmar. After being required to enlist under new mandatory military service requirements, I had to leave Myanmar and resign from my professional positions. Four months after arriving in Thailand, my family and relatives were no longer able to financially support my education, placing my studies at risk.
My dream is to continue working in education and eventually establish a sustainable language school that provides affordable learning opportunities for underserved Myanmar communities. Education remains one of the most powerful tools for social change, and by completing my master’s degree, I hope to strengthen my skills, expand the impact of Avalon NextGen EmpowerEd Initiative, and continue supporting students who face challenges similar to those I experienced.
Written by Nicholas with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Nicholas
“I started seeing education not only as personal achievement, but also as a tool to empower communities.”