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I never give up because my Father supports me

posted on March 30, 2020 by Frank Bird

My name is Thin Thin San and I’m 18 years old. I was born on 14th June 2001 at Yangon, Myanmar. Now, I live in Ranong, Thailand with my father and mother. I’m an only child for my Mum and Dad. We left Myanmar in 2011 because my family has had a lot of problems with working and money. We are not a rich family that’s why we have come to Ranong.

When I was in Ranong, I didn’t study for one year because my parents didn’t have a job and we were only focused on our livelihood.

When I started my school, I had a lot of trouble with Thai subject because I have never studied Thai before. However, I got help from my new friends and Thai teacher to be good at Thai subject and language.

I had one teacher who named Sayar U Thi Ha who knew my education skills and always believed in me. He is a perfect teacher who has graduated from Australia Catholic University (ACU).

When I was nearly finishing Grade– 3, Sayar U Thi Ha said that “you need to go and study at Marist Asia Foundation (MAF) which is the school that can make your education better than here”.

Fortunately, I passed an entrance exam and started a Year – 1 class with my new friends. So, I became a high – school student. However, being a high – school student was very hard for me. I failed two or three subjects at every exam when I did in Year – 1.

I studied hard every night after I have this experience and my learning became better and better every year. I came to understand what education is and how it is important for me. To have a better education will give me confidence everywhere. When I think about my future to my Dad, he always said “don’t worry about your future, it will be fine, you got me and I will never let you be a person who loses education and future”.

My mother couldn’t work because she has a problem with her health. So, only my father work and find money for my study, for our livelihood and for my mother healthcare. Marist Asia Foundation (MAF) where I was studying always helped me with school fees. The fees were 300 Baht for every month but I needed to pay only 150 Baht because the teacher understands my family life.

My home was very far from school so I had a problem with transport until now. I have had many problems especially money problems but I have never given up because my father was always supporting me.

After I finished Year – 4 successfully, I worked as a teacher at Ban Maria Learning Centre who taught KG – 2. When I worked as a teacher, I got a lot of experience. I studied English harder because I knew that English is the most important language in the world. The other reason was that I really wanted to join Australia Catholic University (ACU). It was my first dream and for my parents.

I have worked to find money for my parents before I became a university student as much as I could. When I wasn’t doing well at my studies, my father said “focus on your learning only. The reason why I still living in Ranong is because of your education. Everything I doing right now is for you and I have only you”. English was a very difficult subject for me but I always tried to do the best. I was always thinking that my parents will be proud of me one day.

Over the years, the money problems in my family haven’t become easier. I was not really wanting to continue my learning and I wanted to work but my father didn’t allow me. Then, my father really wanted me to join ACU. We spent a lot of money to join ACU. I did a visa and Myanmar ID card because I could not join if I didn’t have a visa. It cost more than 10,000 Baht to get a visa.

Finally, I could join ACU, I could go anywhere, I could do anything that I want because of my father. Luckily, I passed the ACU entrance exam. My parents were very proud of me and I was very excited to be a university student. I have simple dreams. After I finish ACU, I want to be a teacher again to share my knowledge and skills for Burmese Migrant Children. I really want to join Marist Asia Foundation (MAF) team. My big dream is to support Burmese Migrant People who have adversity in Ranong because I have also experienced that.

Filed Under: News

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Marist Asia Foundation

Ranong is a fishing village in the South of Thailand where migrant Burmese come to escape conflict and poverty in their own country.

The Marist Mission Ranong seeks to help Burmese refugees by offering educational opportunities, supporting their basic health needs, and assist migrants as they seek a better future for themselves and their children.

The Marist Mission Ranong is an initiative of the Society of Mary and it relies heavily on the involvement of its friends and supporters.

Recent news

  • 2023 New School Year
  • Inter-Religious Inter-Cultural Dialogue Programme
  • Scholarship Partnership to Support Quality Education for Burmese Migrants

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