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Navin Chhong

My name is Navin. I am the oldest of four siblings: one sister and two brothers. I joined TASSEL as a student in 2012 and later became a teacher in 2021. I was born and raised in Battambong. When I was 5 years old, my mom brought me to school and I started my Khmer school. When I was in grade 3, I saw my friends going to their English school. Because I wanted to study English so much, I asked my dad if I could go to study English with my friends, but he said I cannot because my parents could not afford to pay for my English school and my Khmer school. My dad tried to find an English school which is free, so that I can study. Finally, he found one non-government organization, where I met Teacher Noeng and Teacher Joji. I spent a few years with them, but then the school relocated to a place that was far from my home, so it is so hard for me to continue my studies. After I left that school, I heard about TASSEL from Teacher Noeng when he came to my home and asked me to join. I was so happy to have the opportunity to study English once again with TASSEL. Since then I was always with TASSEL. In TASSEL, I could study English for free and improve my English very fast. I have been studying at TASSEL since I was in grade 4, so I have been with TASSEL for almost 10 years until I graduated from high school and became a TASSEL teacher. 


When I was young, I did not know that education is very important for me. I tried so hard because I wanted to make my parents and my teachers happy. As time went by, I started to see how important education is in my life. However, I had no idea that I wanted to be a teacher. I just love teaching and sharing what I have studied with my teacher to people around me. When I was in grade 6, I started to help my siblings and my neighbors with their studying. I did not know that it was called teaching, but I really loved it. I just loved how I could share my knowledge to other people who also needed them. I continued to study with TASSEL until I graduated from high school, and I became a TASSEL teacher in Roka.


I always focused on my dream of becoming an English teacher. However, when I was in grade 11, Covid-19 started to spread around the world. In Cambodia, we could not go to school, which forced me to study by myself and could only ask for teachers’ help with online studying. At that time, I was in level 9 in TASSEL. Even though everything was not the same as before, teachers have been trying their best to help their students. All of the hard work they did really inspired me even more. In 2021, I was in grade 12. It was not easy as a senior in high school. I needed to be well prepared for my examination. I had studied in class for only 2 months and then everything became chaotic because of the new covid-19 virus. I learned by myself again. I was very worried about my exam since I was only in class studying with my teacher for such a short time. With all my hard work, I took my examination on 27 December 2021 without any regret. As a result, I earned a B and I was really happy about it.


Now I am in my third year with TASSEL. My dream has come true. I am now in my senior year at university and I majored in English Literature. My vision is to graduate and become a good teacher for my students. When I graduate from my university, I want to help even more poor children who really need help. I want to help other children the same way TASSEL helped me.​ I am so proud to spend my childhood life with TASSEL, and I am even prouder to serve the poor through TASSEL.

Navin Chhong
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