Growing up, my family always made education a top priority, believing it was among the most valuable things a person can have, both for personal success and for creating stability in the future. Their strong support for education started with my grandparents and was passed down through our family. I was encouraged from a young age to study hard and pursue personal growth.
Currently, I am a student at Bangkok University pursuing a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. My academic journey and experiences studying in Thailand have shaped both my personal growth and career goals.
While in middle school, I noticed that my parents were struggling financially, yet they never let us see the full extent of their struggles. They still tried to support our education. After finishing high school, I applied to study Law at Dagon University, but due to the pandemic and political instability, it became difficult for me to continue, so I took a gap year.
During that period, I wanted to study abroad like many of my friends. However, my parents also had to support my sister, who was studying abroad as well, and it was difficult for them to support both of us at the same time. To stay close to education, I decided to apply for teaching jobs, and luckily got a position as a teaching assistant at Pride International School Myanmar (PISM).
While working there, I realized I wanted to travel the world and learn about different cultures, something I had not had many chances to do growing up. I started researching majors related to my interests and found that Switzerland is well known for tourism and hospitality education, though it was expensive. I later discovered I could study the same field in Thailand.
One day, I attended an educational event at Novotel Yangon Max to learn more about tourism-related universities in Thailand, where I had the chance to take the entrance English test for Bangkok University and got accepted. My parents believed a proper degree was essential for my future, and that was how I decided to study in Thailand.
About Lin
- Age: 23
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Bangkok University
- Bachelor’s, International Tourism & Hospitality Management
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Own a hotel
- Travel around the world
- Spend time in Africa
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $3,900
- Amount Left To Fund: $3,900
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
Choosing which field to study wasn’t easy at first, but I settled on Tourism and Hospitality Management, and once I began, I realized it was a broader and more interesting field than I expected. My studies taught me about sustainable tourism and community-based tourism, and I learned the industry extends far beyond tour guides or hotel staff into areas such as event planning, aviation, and restaurant operations. This also made me realize there are many places in my country that could be promoted through tourism and benefit economically from international visitors.
In addition to academics, I also volunteered with AIESEC and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Through volunteering, I gained valuable experience in teamwork, communication, and leadership, both personally and professionally within the tourism field. I also had the opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which I feel very grateful for.
In the short term, my goal is to complete my degree with honors while gaining experience through internships, and to improve my Thai language skills to better understand the culture and increase my opportunities in the industry. In the long term, I hope to work in hotel management or event planning after graduating, save toward a master’s degree, and eventually either build a career in hospitality abroad and start my own tourism business, or return to Myanmar to contribute to the development of tourism there. I believe there are many ways to promote Myanmar, and it would be a waste not to share its culture, beauty, and potential with the world.
My parents have always been there for me through every up and down in my life, staying strong when I could not. My parents often told me, “Do not end up like us,” words filled with love, hope, and fear, and they crossed real barriers of financial hardship and exhaustion to support my sister’s and my education. They are the main reason I want to become successful.
Receiving support through the Zomia loan program would greatly reduce the financial burden on my family while allowing me to continue my education in Thailand with more stability and focus. It would also move me closer to my goal of contributing to tourism development in Myanmar. After repaying the loan, I hope to become someone who can support students the way Zomia supports students today, and to give back by helping others pursue their education and goals.
Written by Lin with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Lin
“My parents often told me, “Do not end up like us,” words filled with love, hope, and fear.”
