Hello! My name is Visal. I was born in 1999. I graduated from college in 2023. I got married right after I graduated from high school. Now I have one child, and his name is Panha. My father is a farmer who works on the farm every day. My mom is a housewife, and she cooks for us every day. I really love her food.

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I was born in a poor family in the countryside of Battambang Province. Even though we were poor, I loved my family very much. There were seven people in my family: my parents and my four sisters, and I, the youngest child in the family. I started school when I was six years old. Since my family couldn’t afford a motorcycle or a bicycle, I had to walk to school every day. My school was about 700 meters from my house, and walking became my daily habit at that time. I had four sisters, but one of them passed away, and the others dropped out of school. I didn’t do well in school at first; it took me two years to finish first grade. My parents often encouraged me, saying, “You need to try harder and stop being lazy!” I literally tried my best to listen to her advice. When I was in fifth grade, I started getting good grades, but then my mom became very sick and had to stay in the hospital for six months. My grades were getting low again during that time. My mom had to undergo an operation, and her health improved a little, but I still worried about her a lot. A few years later, my parents left to look for work in Thailand because we were so poor. They worked very hard to earn money for my education, but I felt very sad living alone. So, I stayed with my grandfather and my aunt. Besides my studying, I helped take care of my grandpa’s animals. I enjoyed playing with the animals and had fun with my friends at the farm. Even though my life was full of challenges, I never gave up. I was happy and grateful for my life and for everything I had.

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In 2013, when I was 14, I finished primary school and moved to a secondary school that was 3 kilometers away from my house. Because classes started at 7:00 AM in the morning, my parents decided to buy me a bicycle, which made me very happy. I worked really hard in school and stayed motivated by my parents’ advice to do the best for my bright future. I finished secondary school in 2016 and started high school, which was 10 kilometers away from my house.

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In 10th grade, I began studying at TASSEL and commuted to high school with my friend daily. A year later, in 11th grade, I joined a volunteer team near my school to help children in a nearby village. Later, I was sent to an organization called VSO that allowed me to stay close to school. I worked very hard with my team and received free English lessons, enhancing my knowledge. This experience inspired me to focus on developing my village and country. I attended TASSEL daily and hoped to pass my high school graduation exams. When the results came out, I was thrilled to see I passed with a “D”, marking the completion of high school. I also had a chance to continue my education at university, hoping to make my life meaningful.

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Before becoming a TASSEL teacher, I was a student at TASSEL in Samrang Village for three years.  During my years as a student, I met many kind foreign teachers. Every foreign teacher is so kind, smart, and hardworking.  Because of the examples I saw from the foreigners as well as from the Cambodian TASSEL teachers, I decided I wanted to become a TASSEL teacher and also help poor children and villagers in my country. Because of TASSEL, I learned English and received lots of love.  Now I can use the English and the love I received to help the people of my country.  I would not have had the ability to help if it weren't for the TASSEL foreigners and the Cambodian TASSEL teachers. At TASSEL, I teach every day.  I also visit families of our children and other villagers.  Last year I visited more than 100 families myself.  I listened to their problems.  Many are not eating, many are sick, and many are lonely. What I can do to help them is bring them rice, take them to hospitals, and listen to their stories. I would like to thank all the foreign teachers for helping my country. You give the children and villagers hope. Because of you, many lives have been transformed.