Four students say they came to Laie to be around more members of Church
Coming from the same branch to BYU–Hawaii BY CARLENE COOMBS Four friends from Myanmar said a childhood dream and being around others of the same faith were some of the motivators that led them to BYUH. They also shared facts about their food and culture from their home country. Ei Ei Phyu, a sophomore from Myanmar studying finance, said going to Hawaii was always her dream. “When I was young, I watched a movie. I remembered the place [in the movie] was so pretty, and I asked my auntie ‘Where is that place?” and she said it might be Hawaii. I said I would go to Hawaii one day. When we were young, we were so poor, and she just laughed and said, ‘Okay, you can go there.’ “I always had in mind that Hawaii is the place I’m going to go to. Now, I’m living my dream.” Phyu shared she is the first in her family to pursue a college degree and was encouraged by her family to come to BYUH. “Because my parents don’t have the education, they want [my siblings and I] to have a good education and encourage us to study.” Sa Myat Yadanar Shin, a freshman from Myanmar studying biology, said getting to be around those who share the same religious beliefs is what drew her to BYUH. “In my country, the main religion is Buddhism. Throughout high school, I was the only Christian. Not even just the only Mormon ... .So it’s really hard. I felt lonely.”
Three of the four Myanmar students note how they love BYUH because of the Honor Code and its welcoming atmosphere. Photos by Keyu Xiao 22
KE ALAK A ’I
