“When you stop learning, you start dying.” I’ve held on to this belief since I was young: I must keep learning and fighting — for my life, for my family, and for my future. As someone from a middle-class family, my life has been shaped by challenges that have tested my strength and built my resilience. These experiences have become the foundation of my drive to achieve my dreams.
I was born in Sagaing, Myanmar, one of the more populated cities in the country, yet still underdeveloped compared to major urban centers. I come from a family of four and am the youngest child. For most of my life, we struggled financially, and those hardships taught me that if I truly wanted something, I had to work for it. That mindset guided me through my school years. I participated in numerous academic competitions, earned recognition from my teachers, and let that motivation push me to keep striving for a better future.
After passing the matriculation exam with five distinctions, I was admitted to the University of Medicine, Mandalay. I poured my heart into becoming a doctor, not only for my family but also to serve the community I grew up in. I found joy in visiting hospitals and speaking with patients. Even small actions brought comfort to those in need, and that meant the world to me.
I passed my exams each year, but everything changed after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. That was the last time I set foot in the university I loved. Nearly three years passed without formal academic study, and during that time, I made the difficult decision to change my path. I chose to pivot toward IT, shifting my dream toward something that blends both medicine and technology.
I enrolled in the Computer Engineering program at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) in Chiang Rai, Thailand. I have not given up on medicine — I continue studying through an online program launched by the interim council of my former university. Pursuing two demanding degrees at once is exhausting, but my long-term goal is to integrate both fields.
About Ryan
- Age: 26
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Computer Engineering
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a data analyst
- Travel to Europe
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $5,600
- Amount Left To Fund: $5,525
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
At MFU, I have embraced every opportunity to grow. I served as an organizer for the International Food and Cultural Festival, volunteered in flood disaster relief efforts, and am a member of MFU’s Mind Corner Club, dedicated to promoting mental health awareness.
I also competed in the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-25 as part of MFU’s network team. We won first place in the national round, represented Thailand in the regional round in Malaysia, and earned third prize in the global round in China. It was one of the proudest and most transformative experiences of my academic life.
My vision is to apply my knowledge to serve marginalized communities where healthcare is still inaccessible, and to help improve their standard of living through innovation and compassion. I’ve made a promise to myself to become someone others can rely on — in both the medical and technological fields — and I have no intention of giving up on that promise.
Written by Ryan with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Ryan
“I have made a promise to myself to become someone others can rely on, in both the medical and technological fields, and I have no intention of giving up on that promise.”
