My name is April. I was born in Lashio, Shan State, Myanmar. I studied in Myanmar until I finished grade 2. After that, my family moved to a refugee camp. I studied in the refugee camp until grade 9 and moved again to Thoo Mweh Khee to continue my education. I finished high school and post-ten at Thoo Mweh Khee Learning Center.
I have three sisters and one brother. My parents were daily workers, and my family had to move from one place to another very often. I grew up in an isolated social environment. As a child, I distanced myself from other people since I was afraid of being judged by them.
In my community, many people are uneducated and narrow-minded. Most get married at an early age. Because I did not want to end up like so many others and spend the rest of my life in the camp, I decided to leave and live outside the camp.
My dream is to be able to travel around the world. Eventually, I left my family and the camp to make this dream come true. When I left, my parents could no longer support me, so I’ve had to support myself financially ever since.
Currently, I am studying to earn a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Business Management at Rajabhat University in Chiang Mai. I enjoy almost any subject because I like to learn new things and expand my knowledge. During my free time, I love watching documentaries as well as war and historical movies. I like to swim and play sports, too. I enjoy being outdoors.
Among the many challenges that I’ve faced during my time at Rajabhat University, the financial problems have been the most difficult to overcome. During my first year, I did not have time to participate in extracurricular activities. I could not relax or enjoy myself. I was only concerned about how to pay my tuition fees on time. As a result, I had to work harder than other students. I studied for six hours and worked for seven hours every day to make enough money to pay for my tuition and living expenses.
About April
- Age: 28
- Ethnicity: Karen
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai Rajabhat University
- Bachelor’s, Aviation Business Management
- Withdrawn
Goals & Dreams
- Become a flight attendant
- Travel around the world
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $1,975
- Amount Left To Fund: $0
- Contract Duration: 10 years
- Status: Repaid in Full
Quotable
What Others Are Saying About April
Despite working endlessly to support myself and making sure to finish my projects and assignments on time, I have never lost sight of my goals. I know that we cannot succeed in life without overcoming hardships.
After finishing my degree, I plan to work as a flight attendant. Doing so will give me an opportunity to travel all over the world and experience different cultures and traditions. I will no longer be stuck in my own world. Moreover, I will be able to serve other people using what I’ve gained through my university education.
Written by April with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
April
“In my community, many people are uneducated and narrow-minded. Most get married at an early age. Because I did not want to end up like so many others and spend the rest of my life in the camp, I decided to leave.”