My name is Neph, and I left my home country to pursue my studies. I come from Myanmar, which is currently unstable. I never thought I would still be working toward my degree at this point in my life. As the only child of retired parents, I feel a deep responsibility to support them, even though I currently cannot. Everything I do is to ensure they have a more comfortable life.
Our household income depended on my parents’ salaries, and our income dropped sharply when they retired. Even so, my parents never let me give up on my dreams. With utmost effort, they sent me to Bangkok to study Architecture at the School of Architecture and Design. That effort meant selling our apartment in Yangon and moving back to our hometown to live in my mother’s family home. I remember that moment clearly, knowing how much they were sacrificing for me. It was then that I realized my education was not only my own journey, but also the result of their unwavering support.
Unfortunately, that support has not been enough to cover the rest of my education. My mother now has diabetes and chronic gout, and has to take medicine regularly; her medical expenses grow more costly each month. We earn modest income from lending money to others, but it is not regular and we cannot fully rely on it.
The steady decline in the value of the Myanmar Kyat makes things harder still, since the amount I need to exchange for tuition and living expenses in Thai baht keeps increasing. Each time I exchange money, I am reminded of how fragile our situation has become.
Currently, I am studying Architecture at the School of Architecture and Design. I chose this field because I believe the built environment has the power to improve people’s quality of life. Through my studies, I have learned not only technical skills, but also how to think critically and solve problems creatively. However, studying abroad has not been easy. Living alone in a different country while managing financial stress has often been overwhelming, especially knowing that my parents are facing their own difficulties back home.
About Neph
- Age: 26
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
- Bachelor’s, Architecture
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Buy a house for my parents
- Spend more time in the countryside
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,100
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,100
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
That’s why this student loan would mean so much to me. Your kind consideration would be a lifesaver. All I ask is to be given a chance to prove my worth. I hope that my feelings on this topic have reached you through this statement. With your helping hand, let us connect passion and dreams. I am grateful for your kind attention and support.
Written by Neph with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Neph
“It was then that I realized my education was not only my own journey, but also the result of [my parents’] unwavering support.”
