My name is Steven. I am a final-year student majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Parami University. I come from Gyobingauk, in Bago (West), an underprivileged rural area, and I grew up in a single-parent family. My father passed away when I was four, and it was my mother, with a meager income, who sent her two children to university.
Education has always been a challenge for me. Before the COVID-19 pandemic and the political upheaval of 2021, I studied International Relations at Dagon University. I was enrolled in an honors class equivalent to third year, and I maintained a 4.0 GPA. Given the situation in Myanmar, however, I lost access to continuing education for two and a half years.
I wanted to continue my studies so deeply that at times I struggled with depression and uncertainty. In 2023, I won a Prospect Burma Scholarship and restarted my Bachelor’s degree journey at Parami University. In 2024, I migrated to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to safely continue my studies with reliable internet and electricity. Over the past two years, I have overcome challenges I once thought were beyond me. I now hold a Dual Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, from both Parami and Bard College.
Within my community, I have been working on monitoring human rights conditions in Myanmar and leading continuing education programs for young people on topics including Qualitative Research, Federalism, and Peace Studies. As someone who has grown through hard times, I hold onto resilience, persistence, and positivity. I put my faith in the fact that there is always a rainbow hovering over my head.
About Steven
- Age: 25
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Parami University
- Bachelor’s, Philosophy, Politics & Economics
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a university lecturer
- Visit various countries in Europe
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,800
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,800
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
After graduation, my goal is to work as a researcher focused on social and economic development, analyzing social issues and contributing to change within my community. Conducting research has always been my passion.
Since 2021, I have been working on the Student Research Initiative, a research advocacy program to equip disadvantaged youth and students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with analytical skills to understand social complexities and develop evidence-based policy recommendations. For two years I have done this work as a volunteer.
In the future, I plan to continue this voluntary advocacy while working as a social researcher at a development organization. I believe Parami University’s strong research expertise across social science and development fields is preparing me well for that goal. I am particularly interested in the comparative politics of Southeast Asia and gender analysis.
Written by Steven with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Steven
“I wanted to continue my studies so deeply that at times I struggled with depression and uncertainty. I put my faith in the fact that there is always a rainbow hovering over my head.”