Phyu Yi Mon Thant
In her homeland of Burma, Phyu Yi Mon Thant had a dream to one day study abroad and rewrite her future through education in a different country.
Her dreams became reality when she moved to Australia in 2018 to escape the civil war in Burma.
Living under oppression in Burma, Phyu’s mental health really suffered.
“I couldn’t even go outside because of my mental health,” she said. “I had lost all my confidence.”
“Then I realised I couldn’t hide in the shadows all the time, so I challenged myself to move forward with my life.”
Then came a glimmer of hope. She slowly changed her thinking and worked out that in Australia she had the chance to make something of herself. With a new sense of purpose, Phyu thought about her passions and rewrote her future by enrolling in the Certificate III in Make-Up at Chisholm Institute of TAFE.
She credits her Chisholm teachers for helping her to re-build her self-confidence. Over time, she emerged as a leader, creating a support group for students struggling to understand English and a Facebook page for the class to share ideas.
Phyu is now a qualified make-up artist and has created a niche business and product line. She’s also studying hair dressing to offer her clients a broader range of services.
She was selected as Vocational Student of the Year in the 2024 Chisholm Education Awards due to her study ethic, determination and selflessness.
Phyu’s advice is to believe in yourself.
“We all have different qualities, study is your chance to develop yours and be empowered,” she said.