Nyi Nyi Tun's storyMy family used to lead a humble life in the Karen State of Myanmar. We farmed on a beautiful piece of land and harvested colourful crops like watermelons, pumpkins and tomatoes. However, the invasion of pests marked the end of our farming business. Our only option was to migrate to Mae La Refugee Camp for shelter.
As the last born of five children, I have always been acutely aware of the financial pressure at home - My elder siblings have their own families and are unable to care for my retired parents. This made me aspire to become an entreprenuer. I noticed how the little characters in our village, like owners of grocery stores or snack shops, ran successful businesses. I knew that with more creativity, I could be even more successful than them. Obtaining a business degree was essential for acquiring knowledge as well as further opportunities. Hence, I studied hard for the General Education Diploma in the refugee camp. It was a great challenge for me, for I had little training in essay writing, but had to write essays on the history of the United States. However, my hard work paid off when I was accepted by the business programme of Mae Fah Lung University! I am very grateful for university education, though it has not been an easy journey. For example, many lecturers deliver lessons in Thai, so I could only rely on textbooks or conduct additional research. I also struggled to meet my expenses. Nonetheless, I have emerged from these challenges as a more resilient person, which will make me a better entrepreneur. After graduation, I wish to join a large corporation for a couple of years, so I could learn from seniors. After that, I hope to establish my own business. A secret dream I’ve harboured is to establish a market for organic vegetables in my hometown: There is an increasing number of tourists visiting my hometown. At the heart of the scenic river, many farmers farm on the marshes. It seems like a good idea to take tourists there and sell valuable crops to tourists. This would create jobs for many people in my village. I hope this idea could be turned into reality one day.
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About Nyi Nyi Tun
Age: 26 Ethnicity: Karen Place of Birth: Karen State, Myanmar School & Programme Business Administration Mae Fah Lung University Third year Goals & Dreams To become an entrepreneur Interesting Facts about Nyi Nyi Tun Q: If you could learn anything in 24 hours, what would you learn? A: Graphic Design Q: Who inspired you the most? A: Steve Gomersall. He founded the school where I and other migrants studied in the refugee camp. I greatly admire his kind heart and determination. Q: If you could teach a class on something, what would it be? A: Humanities. There doesn't have to be any tension or conflict if we value our indigenous culture and embrace our differences. |
