Education has always been important in my life. During difficult times, learning gave me hope and direction. My journey has not been easy, but it taught me responsibility, patience, and respect for opportunity.
My name is Htet Yunn, and I am a final-year Software Engineering student at Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand. I come from Myanmar, and my life story is shaped by family responsibility, early hardship, and a strong commitment to education.
My parents divorced when I was a child. My mother raised us mostly on her own, carrying both emotional and financial responsibility. Growing up in a single-parent household taught me independence early. I learned not to depend on comfort, but on effort, discipline, and patience. Despite our challenges, my mother saw education as a wise investment, encouraging my sister and me to study seriously even when money was tight.
In 2019, my family experienced another painful loss when my father passed away. Although my parents were divorced, his death deeply affected us and reminded me how fragile stability can be. My mother became our only support.
As the political and economic situation in Myanmar became unstable, continuing my studies there grew uncertain. After careful consideration, my mother made one of the hardest decisions of her life: she sold our home so my sister and I could continue our education. That sacrifice showed me the true value of opportunity and strengthened my determination to succeed.
With her support, I enrolled at Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Studying abroad forced me to quickly adapt to a new language, culture, and academic system. I chose Software Engineering because I believe technology can create practical solutions for real problems and provide opportunities for many people.
During my studies, I focused on developing strong technical skills, working on projects related to digital systems and community-focused technology.
About Htet Yunn
- Age: 22
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Software Engineering
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a software engineer…
- …or a runway model in Europe!
- Play the guitar professionally
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $1,000
- Amount Left To Fund: $900
- Contract Duration: 10 years
- Status: In Grace Period
To support myself and reduce the burden on my family, I took on small work-from-home tasks and part-time jobs while studying. I am currently undertaking an internship with a small daily allowance, but it is not sufficient to fully cover my education and living costs. My mother later faced serious health problems and was forced to stop working, leaving our family without a stable income.
My long-term goal is to become a professional software engineer and to use my skills to support students from Myanmar with similar backgrounds, sharing knowledge and creating learning opportunities for those who face financial or social barriers. My life has taught me responsibility, resilience, and respect for opportunity, and I am determined to turn this support into meaningful outcomes for myself and others.
Written by Htet Yunn with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Htet Yunn
“My mother sold our home so my sister and I could continue our education. That sacrifice showed me the true value of opportunity and strengthened my determination to succeed.”
