My name is Iris. I was born in Myeik City, a rural city in the southernmost part of Myanmar. I am a girl of mixed race and the youngest child in my family. I have one elder sister and one elder brother who are living in Myeik. My mother is from the Burmese ethnic group, and my father is from the Shan ethnic group, therefore, my siblings and I are mixed-race people. I am currently studying a second-year Social Science and Sustainable Development degree at Chiang Mai University.
I am an altruistic person who grew up in a low-income family. During my secondary school years, I was discriminated against because of my financial situation. While my intelligence made me an outstanding student, I was bullied in high school.
These traumatic experiences inspired me to dream of becoming a public policy analyst, evaluating, and determining effective policies to promote equality and alleviate poverty for the entire society. However, working hard to accomplish high aspirations has been difficult for someone from a low-income household.
My father was the only breadwinner for our family with his small grocery business in the past. As his income did not cover all our costs, we faced a financial deficit. As a result, my parents took loans from our relatives who owned jewelry stores. My elder sister worked part-time there to save a little interest on the loans, and I also worked at our grocery store to help my parents. Unfortunately, my father was injured in a motorcycle accident, which caused us to confront more financial difficulties. However, with the financial and mental help of my high school teachers, I finished high school and passed the matriculation exam with four distinctions.
About Iris
- Age: 24
- Ethnicity: Burmese, Shan
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai University
- Bachelor’s, Social Science & Sustainable Development
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a public policy analyst
- Improve leadership skills
- Visit South Korea
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $7,000
- Amount Left To Fund: $3,575
- Contract Duration: 13 years
- Status: In Grace Period
I studied Development Studies for two years at Yangon University of Economics (Hlaing Campus) with a scholarship I received and ran an online shop. When I was studying there, I volunteered for university projects like donation projects and job fairs. With the knowledge I gained, I founded the Mediskilltion non-profit organization with my five friends who were enthusiastic about teaching meditation habits to young people. I volunteered as the HR manager at the organization for about 10 months until we stopped our activities.
As someone who has faced traumatic events, I know how difficult it is for people to face their trauma and mental health issues, so I attended training sessions to work as a volunteer lay counselor and admin team member at the Serenity Counseling and Mental Health Service for six months. From all the jobs I have done before, I have gained new knowledge about the challenges individuals encounter in society and the causes of these problems, which will be helpful to me in studying how to create good policies for my country.
To be a public policy analyst, which is my dream career, I chose to study Social Science and Sustainable Development major at Chiang Mai University, as this major includes various categories of subjects, from sociology to politics, which can enhance my understanding of policy and the subject itself.
Apart from my academic success and extracurricular activities, I am just a young woman doing her best to support her family and pursue her goals. Whether the outcome is favorable or unfavorable, I am the kind of person that does not want to give up and works diligently to complete her tasks. As a result, I give my studies my all and am working hard at my job as a data intern to expand my knowledge and earn money for my education.
Written by Iris with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Iris
“As someone who has faced trauma firsthand, I understand how difficult it is for people to confront mental health challenges. I give my studies everything I have and am not someone who gives up easily.”