My name is Khin. I was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar. I became an only child in my family after my brother passed away in 2024. My father operated a family business supplying machine equipment, while my mother ran a small tea shop in our neighborhood. Both of my parents worked hard to support our education. Their dedication inspired me to study hard and pursue higher education, an opportunity they were unable to achieve themselves.
However, during my middle school years, my father’s business collapsed, and soon after, my mother’s tea shop was forced to close due to financial difficulties. Since then, my father has taken on various temporary jobs to support our household. Despite these challenges, my parents constantly reminded me that education is the key to stability and progress, not only for individuals but also for future generations. Growing up in a family that experienced financial hardship sparked my interest in economics and financial management.
After graduating from high school, I enrolled at Yangon University of Economics, majoring in Development Studies. However, after attending classes for only four months, my studies were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a consequence of the pandemic and political instability, my family faced significant economic challenges due to rising inflation and a decline in income. I decided to discontinue my education and join the workforce to support my family. Although I began working full-time to help support my family, I never gave up on my dream of earning a bachelor’s degree.
In 2022, I began working as an online page administrator. Later, in 2024, I joined an Australian-based pest control company as a Customer Care Executive. Through these experiences, I realized that practical work experience alone is not enough to advance professionally. Academic knowledge and theoretical understanding are equally important for career growth and leadership opportunities. As a result, I chose to return to academia and prepared the necessary requirements to pursue a bachelor’s degree abroad through a scholarship opportunity while continuing to work full-time.
About Khin
- Age: 23
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
- Bachelor’s, Financial Engineering
- 2nd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a financial advisor
- Travel to Europe with my parents
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,325
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,325
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
I applied for every available scholarship opportunity and dedicated myself to researching funding programs and seeking opportunities that could help me continue my education. In mid-2024, I was awarded a 75% tuition fee waiver to study Financial Engineering at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL).
Although I could rely on my family’s support during my first year, I am now facing significant financial challenges continuing my studies for the remaining three years of my degree due to unforeseen circumstances. In November 2025, my father was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. As a result, my family has had to prioritize his medical treatment and healthcare expenses, which has made it extremely difficult for them to continue supporting my education. The financial burden became even greater, as I still need to cover my remaining 25% tuition fees and living expenses while my family manages my father’s ongoing medical costs.
Due to these circumstances, I have been exploring every possible scholarship opportunity and part-time job to overcome my financial difficulties. Unfortunately, I was not awarded any additional funding for this academic year, and even if I secure a part-time position, it would not be sufficient to cover both my tuition fees and living expenses. Learning about the Zomia Loan Program gave me renewed hope during this difficult time, and support from Zomia would help ease part of my financial burden, allowing me to continue my studies with less financial pressure.
Drawing on my personal experience of financial hardship and the importance of financial management, I am eager to apply my Financial Engineering education to contribute to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and expand financial opportunities for underserved communities. With the knowledge and skills I gain from my degree, I am confident in building a stable career in the financial sector, and as someone who values integrity and accountability, I am committed to repaying the loan responsibly after graduation.
Written by Khin with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Khin
“My parents constantly reminded me that education is the key to stability and progress, not only for individuals but also for future generations.”
