I was born and raised in a village in northern Shan State, Myanmar, where I learned early that opportunities are not equally shared. My community faced many hardships, including poverty and limited access to quality education, but the biggest challenge in my life involved my family.
My father died when I was in eighth grade because he overdosed on drugs. He had been an addict for many years and could not provide for our family. My mother was left to raise three children on her own. Life was very difficult. There were times when we didn’t have enough to eat, and we struggled to meet even our basic needs.
I remember my mom being threatened with a knife when she refused to give my dad money for drugs. As a kid, it was so painful and scary to witness. To this day, it makes me sad to think about that time in my life and all that my mother had to sacrifice for our family.
Financial difficulties in the family meant my siblings had to stop studying. My brother had to leave school after Grade 6 to help bring in money for the family, and my sister could not finish her secondary education. I was the only one in our family able to continue studying.
In 2017, my mother and brother moved to Thailand for work, and I stayed with my grandparents in Shan State. It was a difficult decision for them, but they believed that investing in my education would create opportunities for our family in the future. It was their sacrifices that motivated me. I understood that my education was not only for myself, but also for the future of my family. So I continued, determined to study despite the financial and emotional hardship.
My dedication was rewarded when I was awarded a full scholarship by the Euro-Burma Office to study in the undergraduate Social Science program at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. Being the first person in my family to graduate from high school and attend college was one of my proudest moments.
About Muay
- Age: 33
- Ethnicity: Shan
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
- Master’s, English
- 2nd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a motivational speaker
- Travel the world, especially Switzerland
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,025
- Amount Left To Fund: $4,025
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
I have also been inspired by my own experiences to serve others. My work has included fundraising for conflict-affected communities in Shan State and teaching to share my knowledge with young people. I often try to inspire young people to continue their education and show them how it can open up opportunities, improve livelihoods, and help strengthen communities.
I have also volunteered as a news anchor to help share important information with local communities. These experiences have strengthened my conviction that education is not only for individual accomplishment, but a means of bringing positive change to society. I am now pursuing a master’s degree in English, because I believe education in a language is a powerful way to empower people and open new doors. I would like to use my knowledge and experience to help young people gain access to quality education and build better lives.
It has not been an easy road, but it has taught me resilience, gratitude, and perseverance. The sacrifices my mother and siblings made motivate me to work harder and give back to my community. My story is not one of overcoming adversity, but one of hope, a hope that education can change lives, open doors, and empower people to make a difference in society.
Written by Muay with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Muay
“My story is not one of overcoming adversity, but one of hope, a hope that education can change lives, open doors, and empower people to make a difference in society.”
