Finding Myself Again

My name is Chan Goe Goe Zaw, and I’m 18 years old. When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a doctor, but I knew I couldn’t, not with my family situation.

My father passed away in 2019, and soon after, my mother left to work abroad in Qatar as a cashier to support us. Since then, my younger sister and I have lived with our grandmother. None of our relatives helped us. My mother had to take risks to feed us. At night, I often cried myself to sleep, feeling humble and heartbroken. I had to be strong for my younger sister, because she only had me. Even though my mother supported us financially, I often felt depressed and guilty, thinking I was a burden to her.

When I reached Grade 12, I studied very hard, but on the day of my Biology exam, I became so anxious that I forgot everything. When it was over, I felt my future was lost. I spent weeks doing nothing: eating, sleeping, and feeling like a useless person. The lowest point in my life came when I learned that my mother had a boyfriend. I felt betrayed, but then I realized she was alone in a foreign country, trying her best to survive. Slowly, I began to understand her.

That’s when I decided to take control of my own life. I searched for ways to improve myself, looked for courses to learn English and other skills, and tried to rebuild my confidence. After some family conflict, I discovered LP4Y through my aunt’s pupil, who told me it was a place full of learning and opportunities: English, computer skills, and real work experiences. I was so excited that I counted down the days until class began.

On June 16, my first day at LP4Y, I woke up early, full of nervousness and joy. From the beginning, everyone was friendly and welcoming. I felt like I finally belonged somewhere. Before LP4Y, I didn’t even know what HR (Human Resources) meant. But through company visits, external trainings, and team projects, I discovered a whole new world. I learned about communication, psychology, and understanding people.

As I progressed, I reached the Manager step and even attended a real interview, something I never imagined doing. Although I didn’t take the job, the experience gave me confidence and clarity about my goals.

LP4Y has changed so many things in my daily life. I used to be too shy to speak in public, but now I confidently talk to people during mobilizations and explain our program. I even learned to navigate Yangon by bus, something I was once too scared to do.

I’ve also joined partner meetings, training sessions, and worked as a trainer and volunteer in the L&D team, where I learned teamwork, leadership, and responsibility.

Over time, I realized that my dreams keep evolving. At first, I wanted to work in HR. Then, I discovered my passion for the hotel industry, especially in the F&B department. Later, my dream grew even bigger, I want to become an event organizer, planning beautiful and meaningful experiences for people.

And one day, I dream of traveling the world, especially visiting the Amazon jungle to see the wild beauty of nature.

After joining LP4Y, I started to see myself clearly, my strengths, my weaknesses, and the person I truly want to become. I learned to believe in myself, to stand on my own feet, and to face challenges with courage.

LP4Y helped me with more than skills it helped me in finding myself again. Now, I’m focused on completing my Life Project Plan step by step, determined to build a brighter future.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, it means so much to me.