Originally from Myanmar, Khin Khin and her family fled to the United States in 2021 following a military coup. Khin Khin and her husband both worked as journalists, which were often targeted for arrest after the coup.
Khin Khin learned about Literacy Pittsburgh from her first ESL teacher, who had formerly worked there. She encouraged Khin Khin to apply even before she moved to Pittsburgh. “I wanted to continue improving my knowledge and English skills.” Khin Khin said.
Khin Khin started taking classes in 2022, starting with GED and moving on to digital skills courses, Accounting Essentials, and English for Jobseekers, with the goal of working in the healthcare field as a diagnostic medical sonographer. “Having a clear goal motivates me to keep moving forward until I achieve it. I am excited to see how far I can grow in a new country with a new career path.”
Beyond these goals, Khin Khin hopes that someday she will be able to return to her home country and contribute the knowledge and skills she’s gained.
Khin Khin is deeply grateful to Literacy Pittsburgh for empowering and supporting her to succeed in her journey. “It is a life-changing opportunity for an immigrant like me. They gave me guidance, education, and confidence I needed to continue my career journey and succeed in the U.S.”
Khin Khin’s firsthand experiences of rebuilding her life and career in the U.S. have been challenging yet immensely rewarding. “The journey may feel difficult at times, but your efforts will pay off. As a second-language speaker, I found learning medical terminology challenging and sometimes felt discouraged, but I kept going. Looking back, I can confidently say it was all worth it.”
Following her lessons at Literacy Pittsburgh, Khin Khin graduated from Freedom House’s medical training program and accepted a position as a Nursing Assistant at UPMC Mercy.
“I’m deeply grateful to all my teachers at Literacy Pittsburgh, Freedom House, and ARIN IU28, Khin Khin says. “Thanks to their dedication and the time they invested in me, I’ve been able to reach this important step in my journey.”
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped more than 4,000 individuals acquire the skills needed to reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small class instruction. Founded in 1982, it serves local adults through numerous neighborhood locations and its Downtown Pittsburgh Learning Center.
