Help Htet from Myanmar(Burma) to Graduate College

Hello, my name is Htet. Thank you so much for being here. I'm an international student from Myanmar (Burma), currently studying Computer Science at Seattle Central College.

MY JOURNEY

I grew up in Myanmar(Burma), one of the poorest and most unstable countries in Southeast Asia.

For the longest time, I've dreamt of receiving a world-class education abroad since quality education was out of reach in Burma. This dream was first inspired by my parents who grew up in the poorest villages with no electricity, yet they became the first in their families to become educated and eventually very successful in the tourism industry.

But if you've seen the news about Burma, you know the devastating impact of the current civil war and armed conflicts since 2021. My once-successful parents slowly lost their careers. My father now drives a taxi and struggles to make ends meet for my family. They could no longer support my biggest dream, my education.

Despite all this, I didn't give up on my dreams. I enrolled at a community college in the United States in 2023, determined to fight for my education and a better life even when people said I'd never be able to afford it. Since then, I've funded my education by applying to scholarships and working 3 jobs on-campus. I was awarded $6600 from Seattle Colleges in scholarships, which I am so grateful for, but it's still not enough. As an international student, I pay over $4000 in tuition every quarter and I am not eligible for federal aid or most scholarships.

With no financial help from my parents, since arriving, I've experienced home instability, food instability, battled with health issues, and the pressure of supporting not only my tuition fees but sometimes sending money back home so my family can eat.

Despite these many challenges, my determination never wavered and I managed to maintain an outstanding academic performance, being on the President's List every quarter while working 3 jobs.

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP TO GRADUATE

Now, I'm nearing the final stretch of my associate's degree and plan to transfer to get my bachelor's degree afterwards. I've come so far — a girl that started from zero to a computer science student in the U.S. chasing her dreams.

But this financial burden is becoming too heavy for me to carry alone, it's becoming more difficult to find funds for myself and to pay my tuition fees on time for the last classes that I have to take. I have pushed through everything to get here, but now I am reaching out with hope in community because without your support, I may be forced to return home before I can complete my studies — and I've fought so hard to get here.

Every dollar raised will go directly towards my education to cover the remaining tuition fees and materials I need to graduate. Your support can help me finish what I started and change the course of my life.

MY DREAM

My dream is not just for myself, but for those I hope to inspire along the way with my story as an example of resilience and perseverance. Not only am I pursuing an education for myself, I am seeking the ability to inspire others, to give back to my community, and to pave the way for people from underdeveloped countries like mine to pursue their education.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Donate if you're able to , every little bit counts.

• If you can't donate, I understand. But I hope you can share my story with your community, friends, or anyone who might want to support a young woman chasing her long-fought dreams.

• If you can support me in any way, I will be forever grateful.

Please contact me for any questions or suggestions.

Thank you for reading and for being part of my journey.

With gratitude,

Htet