Hi, my name is Sai. I was born in Myitkyina, Kachin State, but I grew up in mid Myanmar, in Pyin Oo Lwin. Ever since high school, I was passionate about Maths and Physics. But for many reasons, I enrolled in medical studies. After my first year there, COVID happened, followed by the political upheaval of 2021. During that time, I did a lot of volunteer work. After some time, I decided to get serious about my passion and applied to universities abroad. It was the biggest decision I’ve ever made.
Being from a lower-middle-class family, my parents could not afford to support me to study abroad. So I applied for scholarships, and luckily, I got my tuition fees covered. At the time of writing this, I am in my third year at Hong Kong Baptist University, working several part-time jobs to pay for my living expenses.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced is that my university doesn’t offer research internships in the field I love. So I taught myself and wrote a research paper on quantum physics. This summer, I will be doing a research internship at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, in the field I care about. It’s unpaid, but I’m proud of the work I’ve put into my self-studies over the past three years, even though I know there’s still much more to do.
I have also served as a peer tutor for other students in my major. From my part-time job, which lets me take home food every night, I’ve shared meals with people in need on my dormitory floor.
After my degree, my goal is to do research in Applied Math and Physics. As I learn how academia works, I hope that someday, far in the future, I might be able to open a science-focused institution in Myanmar. But because of uncertainty in the job market, my backup plan is to work as a data scientist.
About Sai
- Age: 24
- Ethnicity: Kachin
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- Bachelor’s, Mathematics & Statistics
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a researcher
- Visit Rome
- Travel to space! 🚀
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,575
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,575
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
Outside of academics, I play guitar and sing, and I’ve even written two songs of my own. Bob Dylan is my favorite songwriter.
This coming year is my last as an undergraduate, and it’s a crucial one for me. A loan from Zomia would help cover my accommodation fees and daily expenses, without which I can’t finish my degree. My main goal is to do research in Physics and Applied Math, which requires a lot of self-study on top of my regular coursework. It’s a constant battle between part-time work and self-study in my daily life, and a Zomia loan would help ease that burden.
Written by Sai with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Sai
“I’m proud of the work I’ve put into my self-studies over the past three years, even though I know there’s still much more to do.”