By Beam Staff

Have you ever felt like you have zero opportunities? That there no doors opening for you?

Hpa-An local, Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar, 22, was looking for educational opportunities that would provide her with a great future. She felt there was little hope. Every door seemed closed.

“I found out about the CYLD (Community Youth Leadership Development) Program on Facebook while researching for the GED online program,” she says. “It gave me the opportunities to learn GED and take the exam, meet new friends, receive valuable guidance from international teachers, get knowledge for university and scholarship preparation, and leadership experience.”

“I was working on the border and lost and depressed. It was my first time trying for migrant education. I had no knowledge about the system,” she says. “At first, I applied for other GED programs but I didn’t get in because I was not familiar with how to approach the application process.  Then, I moved to Thailand, prepared for about six months to apply for the CYLD program and got admitted.”

After ten months of hard work and commitment to the BEAM Education Foundation CYLD program, Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar achieved a GED with strong scores. The next challenge was trying to get a scholarship.

She decided to create the best application possible and apply for a Child’s Dream Scholarship. Once she received an invitation to interview, Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar prepared thoroughly. She thought deeply about her answers and practiced her interview strategy.

Then THE email arrived! Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar achived a full scholarship to study at Chiang Mai University. Her major will be Social Studies.

“As soon as I got the Child’s Dream scholarship email, I felt like it was all worth it! The struggles I have been facing these years were worthy,” she says.

“I have been in different places: I was lost with no hope. I had lost a lot of opportunities in education.”

“There were so many obstacles. I searched for a way to get a document as a migrant worker and then a passport. It costs a lot of time, energy, and money,” Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar says.  “I believe in hard work and I believe in myself.”

“Whenever thinking about giving up, just take a glance at the journey you have been through. Then, you will know it is worth it. And also think about your future not having what you wish for, you may probably never let your dream go,” she says.

After university, Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar has big plans.

“I will start my research journey as an ethnography researcher while working in the ethnic community sharing research training, empowering youths through their academic journey, advocate for cultural studies and preservations,” she says. “Build cultural identity among them, and create plans and projects upon how they will get advantages on cultures such as tourism, local products, entertainment and literature.”

With such a positive experience of the CYLD program behind her, Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar offers some great advice for future students.

“BEAM is the opportunity you should never miss. When you join BEAM, apart from subject lessons, you should also engage in extra class activities such as leadership teams, book club, ‘Better than Ok’, and other on-site activities too,” she says.  

“What I notice is students who engage in these tend to get more networks, experience and the scholarships.”

When applying for scholarships Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar has some hot tips.

“Be prepared for everything, the documents, English proficiency, GED or high school certificate, professional and volunteering experience.

Please don’t just volunteer for a scholarship or your portfolio, please do with your heart and the ambition to work for your community and take wonderful networks and experiences from there.

Be prepared mentally too. In case you don’t get what you want, you should keep working or try other ways instead of giving up,” she says.

When reflecting back on her BEAM experience, there is no doubt in Nan Shwe Pwint Hlwar’s mind the best elements.

“The community itself! I know most of the staff and teachers,” she says.

“All of them are really supportive of my academics and education journey. Especially the bonds with teachers. Even when the program is completed, they are always there to support our scholarship journeys.”

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