On a rainy morning in 2017, a simple question changed my perception of life: “How will you contribute to your country when you become an adult?” That was the first time I began to search for the value of being a Myanmar citizen.
As I learned more about the discrimination and violence in my community, I grew curious about how social harmony can be constructed and sustained in Myanmar. Witnessing ongoing conflicts, human rights violations, and a lower standard of living in my day-to-day life became a driving force for me to specialize in International Relations at university.
The subjects I studied became a dim light helping me explore new ideas and perspectives about Myanmar’s political situation.
As an internationally focused area of study, I became more aware of how politics, law, and economics are interconnected, and I learned the significance of diplomatic dialogue.
Driven by curiosity and passion about my community, I kept busy during my university years managing workshops on civic awareness, meeting youth from different backgrounds, and gaining local insights into various conflicts. I became increasingly engaged with issues such as religious tension, discrimination, and long-running ethnic civil wars.
After the coup, I had to take a break from university. During that time, I worked as an assistant English teacher and pursued a course in governance and public administration. As the eldest daughter of a family living hand to mouth, I struggled, but I managed to balance work and education with faith that the path I had chosen would be worthwhile.
About Yoon
- Age: 23
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- City University of Hong Kong
- Bachelor’s, Public Policy & Politics
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a professor
- Learn to play piano
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $5,150
- Amount Left To Fund: $3,700
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
Through my studies, I gained theoretical and analytical tools to understand public policy and political developments, and I became more interested in how Myanmar might address its social challenges on the path toward democratic restoration. That is where I grew curious about the role of policy creation and all the possibilities it holds for making change.
Upon graduation, my first ambition is to contribute to my country. Even if democracy is restored, consolidating it will be difficult in a society as diverse as Myanmar’s. With a bachelor’s degree, I hope to take a role in humanitarian affairs and help address the country’s long-running conflicts through public policy that encourages community engagement across all ethnic groups. I also want to help revitalize young people’s sense of belonging to their communities, at a time when many are discouraged from engaging in civic life. I will invest everything I have in bringing meaningful change, so that my generation will be the last to suffer from these conflicts, and the next will be able to live the life they deserve.
Written by Yoon with editing assistance from Holland, one of Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Yoon
“I will invest everything I have in bringing meaningful change, so that my generation will be the last to suffer from these conflicts, and the next will be able to live the life they deserve.”
