There were bumpy and rocky roads I went through in my educational journey. However, when I look back, I can see the beauty in the path I traveled. Though it was tough at times, upon reaching my educational goals, the journey transformed into a beautiful experience.
Now, let me share the struggles I encountered during my educational journey as I recall those challenging days. The purpose of sharing these difficulties is to encourage and inspire young people who are navigating their own educational journeys. As I mentioned in Part 3 of my educational journey, failure and rejection were integral parts of my experience. These difficulties taught me how to endure hardship and helped me mature emotionally. I learned the importance of being emotionally resilient in addition to being intellectually bright (IQ). Essentially, I discovered the significance of both IQ and EQ during my challenging times in Yangon.
After being accepted to a university in the USA, I immediately applied for a passport. In those days, the regular processing time for a passport was six months to a year. I patiently waited for a year to receive my passport. When it finally arrived, I was overjoyed. Holding my passport in my hands felt like half of my dream of studying in the USA had come true. However, my happiness was short-lived.
One hot summer afternoon, I went to Sule, downtown Yangon, to exchange Myanmar currency for US dollars at the street market for my air ticket. Unfortunately, I was scammed by a street money exchanger. I realized I had been cheated after exchanging the money and counting it at a restaurant, only to find one-fourth of it missing. Disappointed, I left the restaurant without eating and returned to Hlaingthaya Township, where I was staying.
As I traveled back on a crowded bus, I realized my back pocket was empty. My money, ID card, and passport were gone! I had been pickpocketed. Standing at the bus station under the scorching sun at 2 PM, I felt lost and hopeless. It was the darkest moment of my academic journey.
In Part 5, I will share how I renewed my dream. Please share in the comments if you’ve faced challenges similar to mine in your life.
