My name is Jack. I am a third-year tourism student at Mae Fah Luang University.
My mother, who is my main supporter, recently lost her small food stall. She sells Myanmar traditional food on the street—just two tables, a small kitchen, and a few chairs. In January 2026, city officials told her she needed to remove the stall due to local regulations, and she has not been able to sell food since. She also suffers from a knee injury and cannot lift heavy items. My father retired four years ago due to health problems and underwent surgery on both eyes last year. He has no income. My older sister is still looking for work, but job opportunities in our hometown are very limited.
I am the first person in my family who will graduate from university. My mother has been doing everything she can to support me, and I do not want to give up on my educational and professional dreams.
My dream is to become a professor at Mae Fah Luang University. I hope to teach, share knowledge, and help build a more educated future generation. I love teaching others, sharing ideas, and communicating. Even now, I regularly help classmates who are struggling in school.
My financial situation has become very difficult. My monthly expenses come to approximately 6,500 baht: 2,000 for rent and electricity, 3,000 for food, and around 1,500 for contingencies. I walk to the university, which takes about 15 minutes from my dormitory. I am still unable to pay my tuition in full and have been requesting extensions each semester. I currently owe 19,000 baht for this semester alone.
Looking ahead, my final year will require 42,000 baht in the first semester and 39,000 baht in the second, including facility and insurance fees. These are burdens I do not know how to meet on my own.
Academically, I have never let these pressures affect my work. My GPA has never fallen below 3.50, and I have never failed a subject.
About Jack
- Age: 21
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Tourism Business & Events
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a professor at Mae Fah Luang University
- Travel the world
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,925
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,925
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
Every night, I think about my mother waiting for my graduation day. She is aging, her knee is injured, and she is doing everything she can for me. My father’s health is fragile. My sister has no stable income. I do not want to quit. I do not want all of their effort to come to nothing.
As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I want to change the world and our society for the better. Mae Fah Luang University is more than a place of study to me. It is my home and my safe place. I want to finish what I started, and one day stand at the front of a classroom, giving back what was given to me.
Written by Jack with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Jack
“Mae Fah Luang University is more than a place of study to me. It is my home and my safe place.”
