My name is Tawan. There are three members in my family: my father, my mother, and me. Currently, I’m studying Computer Engineering at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Twenty years ago, both of my parents were university lecturers. They worked at different universities, teaching different subjects. When I was two years old, my mother resigned from her job due to her poor health and the responsibility of looking after me. Because of this, my father became the only one supporting the family, and we began to face financial difficulties.
I spent my childhood in different towns where my father worked. At that time, government employees in Myanmar were paid very low salaries. As far back as I can remember, my childhood was difficult, and my parents and I faced many financial hardships as my mother was unemployed and my father earned a meager salary.
Since it was not easy to make ends meet with my father’s salary, my mother encouraged him to resign from his lecturer position. After ending their lives as university lecturers, my parents started earning money as freelance teachers. The financial hardships were still there, but we became a little more stable than before.
Nonetheless, my schooling days still posed challenges such as having no pocket money, being unable to pay tuition fees on time, and facing discrimination. Thankfully, I finished high school despite the hardships. However, to my great dismay, I scored very low on the matriculation exam and missed a chance to get into the university of my dreams.
I was very lost at that time. So, my parents decided to send me to a foreign university—not because they are wealthy, but because they want me to make my dream come true. Finally, with my mother’s small savings and my aunt’s support, I was able to start my academic journey at MFU. I chose Computer Engineering to make my dream come true.
About Tawan
- Age: 24
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Computer Engineering
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Start an education foundation to teach computer engineering
- Produce robots for those suffering from autism and depression
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $7,725
- Amount Left To Fund: $7,075
- Contract Duration: 13 years
- Status: In Repayment
My dream is to build and produce robots for people of all ages who are suffering from autism and who are experiencing loneliness, isolation, sadness, and depression. As an only child, I understand the feelings of those who are in need of good company. They need someone who can give them affection and warmth in order to have more meaningful and better tomorrows.
Moreover, I would like to do something to give back to my beloved country. Since it is one of the least developed countries in the world, most people in Myanmar, especially those from rural areas, lack knowledge when it comes to the field of computer engineering. This is not because they do not want to learn, but because they cannot afford or do not have the chance to do so.
Therefore, upon finishing my studies, I would like to start a small education foundation in Myanmar where everybody can learn what computer engineering entails.
Thanks to the grace of God, half of my four-year educational journey has been completed. Nevertheless, for a child from a low-income family, dreams are always expensive and hard to achieve. To make things worse, given the COVID-19 pandemic and the current political instability in Myanmar, many households have been adversely affected. Therefore, my aunt cannot continue supporting the rest of my educational journey.
Since the beginning of COVID-19, my father has been jobless, and we have had to rely on my mother’s small income to cover all family expenditures and my academic fees. Since my mother is a freelance teacher, her income is not consistent, and in some months, we have no income at all.
So, it has become nearly impossible to continue my studies. I was lost about what to do and really scared that I would not be able to accomplish my dream. Luckily, through a senior of mine, I was introduced to Zomia and now have a chance to apply for an educational loan with the hope of continuing my academic journey.
Written by Tawan with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Tawan
“Upon finishing my studies, I would like to start a small education foundation in Myanmar where everybody can learn what computer engineering entails.”