My name is Meeshell. When I was one year old, my parents moved back to Lashio, Shan State from Tachileik to run a small business. However, they separated when I turned three. After that, I saw my father only a handful of times before he passed away when I was still young.
My mother worked at an NGO and was rarely home. When I turned six, she sent me to a boarding house so I would be cared for and could continue my education. My mother left for Thailand when I was twelve. After finishing high school, I decided to follow her.
I was not forced to leave my hometown in Myanmar, but there were things I considered when I moved: my education and a better standard of living.
The education system in Myanmar during my schooling years was not well suited to me. Rather than the education adapting to me, I had to adapt to it, which I found difficult. My hometown was also less developed then, so in order to get more opportunities and experiences, I moved to Thailand.
I did not pass the high school exam in Myanmar, which meant attending university there was not possible. But as I was already living in Thailand when the results came out, I looked for other options. With my mother’s advice and connections, I found that I could join the GED program in Thailand at BEAM Education Foundation.
Even if I had been able to attend university in Myanmar, I would likely have studied something I had no interest in. I believe we should learn about things we are passionate about — things that will help us build our future careers. That is why I chose to continue my education in Thailand.
About Meeshell
- Age: 29
- Ethnicity: Kachin, Karen, Shan
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai Rajabhat University
- Bachelor’s, English for International Communication
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Work for Myanmar migrant students’ education
- Play piano like a professional
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,575
- Amount Left To Fund: $4,200
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
I am now studying English for International Communication. My interest in teaching goes back to volunteering as a kindergarten teacher at my church, where I enjoyed helping children improve their English skills. Currently, I am an intern at BEAM at the Migrant Education Integration Initiative program, where I am learning about migrant students’ education and how organizations supporting them work. After graduating, my aim is to become a teacher who guides students in a positive way, or to continue working to improve education for Myanmar migrants through an organization.
Written by Meeshell with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Meeshell
“I believe we should learn about things we are passionate about — things that will help us build our future careers.”