Not knowing what would happen in the next stage of my life, my parents and grandmother dropped me off at the bus station. The bus journey to Yangon took two days due to the rainy season, resulting in muddy roads. We encountered a setback on the Kalay-Kabaw Highway near Monywa, where the bus got stuck. Despite the challenges, I finally arrived in Yangon after two days of travel.
Upon my arrival in Yangon, I immediately began searching for employment and secured a job at a street market selling sugar cane juice. My work involved operating a hand machine to produce the juice, earning approximately 45 Kyats (Myanmar Currency) per day. It wasn’t a significant amount considering the economic conditions of the time, and selling sugar cane juice was not a popular profession. Nonetheless, I persevered to earn enough money to survive in Yangon.
Working Monday through Friday allowed me to save a little money. With these savings, I purchased paper, envelopes, and stamps to apply to schools in the USA. Every Monday, I visited the main post office downtown to send out my admission applications to various colleges. Over the span of two years, I mailed more than 100 applications. Despite facing numerous rejections due to financial constraints, I remained determined and continued to pursue opportunities. I firmly believed in the proverb, “if there is a will, there is a way.”
Facing rejection taught me the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. Despite setbacks, I refused to consider myself a failure. Instead, I viewed each rejection as a stepping stone toward my ultimate goal of studying in the USA. I shared my dreams with friends, even though some doubted my ability to overcome my financial limitations.
After two years of relentless effort, I finally received an admission letter from a university in the USA, accompanied by a 50% tuition scholarship. This marked the end of Part 3 of my academic journey. In Part 4, I will recount my experience applying for a passport, including the challenges I faced. Stay tuned for more updates.
