Personal essay

December 31, four years ago: It was New Year’s Eve, and my mom, dad, elder
sisters, and I celebrated as we had for the past five years, preparing dinner for
relatives and family. Once the food was brought out from the kitchen, our home
was filled with laughter, hugs, shared family albums, and the joy of capturing new
family photos for the next album. Despite all the warmth and laughter, I couldn’t
help but notice a sense of loneliness and isolation that was hard to ignore.
Fast forward to December 2023. For the first time, I felt a distinct sense of
absence: empty seats where my sisters and cousin once sat, a silence replacing
the vibrant conversations that used to fill the room. The family photo that once
captured twelve smiling faces now held only nine. Smiles remained, but beneath
them lay unspoken worries and uncertainty about the future amid the country’s
worsening political and economic crisis.
This sense of absence isn’t just personal; it’s a reality affecting an entire
generation in Myanmar. The coup in 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic weren’t
just political upheavals—they reshaped the lives of ordinary citizens. Families
lost their jobs overnight, small businesses were closed without government
support during the pandemic, and many talented young people are now leaving
the country in search of better economic prospects.
The combined impact of the coup and the pandemic made me realize the
profound importance of economics and finance in my country. This domain
caught my attention as I began to see how it underpins many aspects of daily life
and national stability. My parents encouraged my curiosity and shared ideas
through daily conversations about business plans and helped me understand the
real economic struggles of the society I live in.
To me, Economics is a unique blend of science and art. The theories and
concepts I studied in school echoed the logic of math and science, where
reasoning forms the foundation of analysis. The knowledge of calculus and
understanding of graphs in Mathematics has prepared me to learn more about
quantitative data and economic models. However, unlike math or physics, some
theories in economics don’t directly apply to the real-world, which deepened my
desire to study unpredictable economic situations.Books like Wealth of Nations
and articles on "Economic Growth in Asian Countries" expanded my
understanding beyond Myanmar, inspiring me to think of ways to uplift
communities. For example, one article, "Debt and Employees in Myanmar,"
highlights that six out of ten full-time employees encounter financial difficulties
yearly due to a lack of financial knowledge.
To put my knowledge into practice, I volunteered at my hometown school for four
months, focusing on math and economics education. I encouraged the younger
generation to save money and taught them essential budgeting skills, and the
use of spreadsheets in estimating spending. However, I soon realized that
understanding theory is only part of the solution. Even though I'm helping this
community by giving lectures, it still doesn't feel like enough to bring about real
change. Myanmar needs leaders with fresh perspectives to reshape policies and
economic strategies for modern needs. I aspire to be one of those leaders whose
voice can help drive these transformations in my country.
At university, I am excited to engage in debates and explore the economic
perspectives of countries facing complex economic situations. I hope to
represent my country, cherish my identity, and raise awareness of the political
and socio-economic challenges of Myanmar. I strongly believe that through
collaboration, we can share knowledge and insights that empower us all. I am
determined to reform our economic system so that young people can thrive
without having to leave their loved ones behind.
Why I want to attend Mercer University

I have been exposed to the business field since I was a young age as I grew up in a
family where my father is a business-man. Through my teenage years, I examined the
way my father operated his business and resolved the problems. Consequently, I have
learned to develop my knowledge in economics and take action according to different
situations. Later on, I found myself interested in analyzing economic problems from
different perspectives, calculating financial risk especially during the current crisis in
Myanmar. These factors make me interested in creating sustainable economic plans
while minimizing risks in operations.

To enhance my knowledge, I study deeply into economics through books, articles, and
television. When I talked with my father, he asked me, “What are you going to do when
you get older?” My reason was “I want to create a new economic history for our country,
one that boosts our economic growth and competes with other countries”. I recognized
a need for financial literacy in my country. Many hardworking employees face financial
challenges once in their lifetime due to a lack of basic economic knowledge which is
rarely taught in school. It inspires me to create PowerPoint lectures on the importance
of economics for my community and future generations whenever I have free time. Also
I wrote a short research paper for Burmese investors discussing the best options for
their money, focusing on gold, real estate, and currency investments-along their
historical changes over time.

After I passed my IGCSE exam, I started planning to continue my further studies in the
United States, and my sister recommended that I apply to “Mercer University”. When I
searched on the university website, I found the Economics major which is my dream
program. In the program's curriculum, I found the most interesting courses such as
“Labor Economics”,”Law and Economics”, "Urban and Regional Economics”, “Game
Theory”. I hope Mercer University gives students the opportunity to develop and analyze
finance, and I am ready to grab this chance. The university has various diversity, and I
expect to meet people from different backgrounds. I believe that building a professional
network starts with attending a university that further connections and provides real-
world experiences. I trust that Mercer University’s supporting environment, focus on
mentorship and peer collaboration brings an excellent foundation during my university
life. Therefore, Mercer University would be the best choice for me to achieve my
academics and professional goals.
Additionally, I am also eager to join different clubs and organizations that are offered by
Mercer University, especially in community engagement activities and men’s soccer
beyond the classroom. I love the idea of working with a team since I can make new
friends from different places. The chance to develop skills in activities that can be
enjoyed for a lifetime would be an exciting moment to me. As a competitive soccer
player, I am excited about Mercer’s soccer team, and I hope to compete in a soccer
match wearing the Mercer’s soccer team jersey, representing a community that values
teamwork. I am looking forward to the balance of competition, and recreation, which will
help me to be active, build friendships, and make memorable moments during my
college experiences.

To conclude, I believe that learning economics from different perspectives would help
me to access various economic insights of the world. I want to explore broader
economic theories and the practical appliance of the concepts of the world economy. I
want to study and work in a diverse environment and competitive society. As a world-
reputed university, I believe “Mercer University” can offer me better opportunities to
explore the world as an economic sight and quality of education. I ascertain that taking
a concentration on economics program at “Mercer University” would bring me the
economics aspects and practical experiences, and I am ready to grasp those
opportunities.