Hello everybody! I am very happy to introduce myself to you all. My name is Sotheara Suon and I am 20 years old. I was born in Kandal province, Keinsvay district. I am an oldest child in a family of five sons and a daughter. Currently I’m studying at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) majoring in Khmer literature.
While I was studying at high school I always had a wish of passing all my examinations with a (C) grade as it’s very venerable if you’re studying in the countryside and could obtain that grade. As a result, my dream became true! It was not just only me feeling satisfying but so did my whole family as well as my friends! I was really proud of my achievement!
I moved to Phnom Penh in 2008 after I had finished my exam. Initially when I arrived to Phnom Penh for the first time in my life, I knew nothing about my way around in the city. I did not know anyone nor did I have any relatives or friends to stay with. I felt very upset and was very stressful as everything was new to me. Luckily, life in the city has taught me many new things that I had never knew before when I was staying in my home town. Everything is absolutely different from the countryside such as: many roads, lifestyle, the way city people thinking and the list would just go on and on. As days pass by, I become increasingly understandable the way life in the city work. In Phnom Penh, I do not only learn from my university but also from other events that are happening to me and society. My knowledge is mounting up step by step. I then later learn to appreciate those hardships I had encountered during those times because they were my best teachers I would never have a chance to learn from any schools or universities and I would not have learnt to appreciate my life much had I not encountered those issues. Additionally I was very lucky enough to befriend with many good people. They assisted me whenever I faced any issues. They encouraged me to stand up when I lose fate in myself; they encouraged me to become a stronger person whenever I fell down. My friends usually brought knowledge with them to share with me. We had joined many workshops that provide information on current issues happening in our society.
Fortunately, one day I was offered a scholarship to study Khmer Literature at RUPP, again it was a great news for me especially my parents! However along with this happy news, I was still struggling to adapt to a new environment in the city and I also knew that I had to encounter many other financial difficulties such as paying bills for: accommodation, water, electricity and especially foods. Sometimes I dreamed of obtaining another scholarship for accommodation from another university or NGO however it was only a dream. And I thought that dreams do not exist….
One day, one of my friends whose name Phearith, gave me an opportunity to participate in a 2 days course called “Attitude Forum” which was conducted by Mr. Sokchea SAING. After completing the course I was very surprised of how much knowledge I gained from the course! I was pretty much interested in the course, the way him conducting the course as well as administering the class! I was not only impressed with his lesson but also including his teaching skill! He is a very dynamic teacher who I have never and ever met in my whole life! And because of the course I was able to make more good friends such as Savy, Synoeun and so on. They are very interesting people; they shared their ideas with me and my friends. They told me about the Attitude Centre for Education and recommended me to apply for the scholarship there. As it is a centre which provides many opportunities for underprivileged students from slum areas as well as countryside to be able to have a place to stay, to attend university and especially to facilitate personal growth in youth. As a result, after I filled out the form and answered the four questions which basically related to my Background, Attitude and my Vision, it took me almost four months later to hear exciting news from ACE! However I didn’t mind those months I had to wait for the result of my application, as it was one of those contented news which you wouldn’t mind waiting for!
Staying at ACE has given me so many prospects in life. I have learnt so many things from other scholarship students; we have shared various ideas with each other. We have made good memories together. We help each other, cook and have meals together; all the 15 of us. ACE is much better than other places which I have been. It empowers us to be able to join in various trainings which are conducted by Mr. Sokchea, to have fate in ourselves, to look up high and reach our goals, to become brilliant potential leaders and most prominently the provision of opportunities for us to contribute in helping developing our community and overall Cambodia!
In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to all the members of Cambodian Kids Foundation who continue spending your precious time and energy in supporting all the underprivileged students in Cambodia thus for us to be educated and have a bright and the best future! Your support means so much for us! Also I would like to thank teacher Sokchea who has given me the best opportunity to stay at ACE, without you I probably wouldn’t have met more good people and wouldn’t believe that our DREAMS do exist if we are strongly committed! Finally I’m very appreciative for everybody in ACE who has welcomed me with full compassion and has volunteered to assist and has shown so much support to me. THANK YOU ALL!!
Best regards
Sotheara Suon
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