From Home to ANU: A Year of Gratitude, Resilience, and New Beginnings

– My heart aches and feels heavy because of the temporary loss of peace in my motherland, Cambodia, but I still remain calm, trust my government, and support frontline soldiers and war-affected families as best as I could.

– My daughter turned 19 months old and is now joyfully entering her “terrible twos”, and guess what? I haven’t lost my temper, not even once!

– I took the official IELTS test for the first time, and it was computer-based. Fortunately, I achieved the required band score.

– I took the driving test for the first time and, by some miracle, I passed.

– I applied for the Australia Awards Scholarship for the first time, and when good preparation met opportunity and luck, I was awarded the scholarship.

 

Very soon, I will depart for Australia to begin my PhD journey at the Australian National University (ANU). Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Australia Awards Cambodia, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Embassy, Cambodia, the Royal Government of Cambodia, the MoEYS Cambodia, and Australia Awards Cambodia Team for granting me this prestigious scholarship. At the same time, I would like to pay my highest respect to our brave frontline soldiers for their sacrifices in protecting our territory and sovereignty. Please accept my deepest bow and lifelong gratitude.

 

This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my beloved husband, Penghuy SP, my precious daughter, Lili, and my extended family, especially my parents and grandparent, Meas Chan and យាយ វន.

 

I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation to His Excellency Mak Ngoy, Director General of Higher Education, and Prof. Dr. Heng Kreng, Head of the Management Committee of the Department of Research and Innovation and Deputy Secretary General of Secretariat General of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, for their great leadership, guidance, and genuine support over the past five years at work and their referee reports. My heartfelt thanks also go to my supervisor in my master’s course at Hiroshima University, Chiaki Miwa sensei, for her referee report. Profound thanks to my direct mentor, Dr. Sok Say, National Technical Advisor of Higher Education Projects and Emeritus Prof. Martin Hayden, for their continuous support and encouragement on the scholarship application. Without them, I probably will never have a courage to start preparing my application for this scholarship.

 

I am indeed very grateful for Dr. Keuk Chan Narith, Head of Department of English, Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh, for his fast and furious letters to ANU. Without his kindness and understanding, I would not be admitted to ANU.

 

I am deeply grateful as well to my other mentors, including PhD candidate Heng Vileak, Dr. Bophan Khan, Dr. Kimkong Heng, Mr. Vutha Ros, and PhD candidate Channy Meng. They were always valuable sources of advice, especially during my scholarship interview preparation. My professional and personal development has also been shaped by the mentorship and apprenticeship of a few more people, such as Dr. Kao Sovansophal, Bang Sokunthy Chheng, and Bang Rinna Bunry. They are more than senior colleagues to me, but my closest brothers and sisters.

 

Though thousand kms away from home, I feel very warm looking ahead that I will be surrounded by my uncle, Sombok Kong, my cousin Soklyda Prum, my pal Sally Knox, and many other supportive Cambodians in Canberra.

 

I promise to study diligently and return to Cambodia to contribute to the development of our country. I am also committed to raising my daughter and my younger generations with knowledge, PLUS humility, and humanity, so that peace can prevail forever in Cambodia.

 

I don’t know what 2026 will bring, but with the support of the wonderful people around me, especially my husband and my Lili, I’m ready for whatever comes.