Private Primary Boundary Road School

• During my Kindergarten and Primary school at PPBRS, I won book prizes for standing First in the class.
  
• Two books were in English.
  They cover illustrated stories.
  I love stories and story telling.
  The books may be a sign that I would become a story teller and an amateur historian.
  
• One book “Ee Soot Pone Pyin” was a translation of Aesop Fables by Ngwe Tar Yee and Min Yu Way.
  Many of our generation will be familiar with “Ngwe Tar Yee Magazine”.
  The book may be a sign that I would become a translator.
  
• I won a Thermos Flask for reciting “Mingalar Kabyar” by Saya Dagon U Tun Myint.
  The flask may be a sign that I would become a volunteer for dhamma courses and meditation retreats.

St. Paul’s High School

• During my middle school days at SPHS, I won two pens in Saya U Pe Tin’s class.
  One for good handwriting and another for good behavior.
  
• I won fifty pyas several times for doing well in the English tests given by Sayama Amelia Kyi (Miss Hong Kong).
  I could not afford to pay 25 pyas fine for failing her tests.
  The carrot and the stick worked for me.

• During my high school days at SPHS, Brother Austin gave me a ticket to see “1960 Rome Olympics” at the Thamada (President) Cinema for reciting verses from “Morals and Manners”.
  It may be a sign that I would one day write and translate poems.
  
• For doing well in a test, I won a book “History and Atlas of North America”.
  It may be a sign that I would study and work in the USA.
  
• I owe an apology to Brother Austin.
  He predicted that I would be in the Top Three along with Khin Maung U and Min Oo in the Matriculation examination.
  Brother Austin would mark my homework with a 9 or a 10 and then subtract 2 with the note : “I need to have new eye glasses to read your tiny handwriting”. I ended up with a 7 or 8.
  
• Because of my idiosyncrasies, I stood 7th in the whole of Burma and received a pen instead of a Gold Medal.
  I did not end up in the SPHS Roll of Honor (which listed the Top Five).
  Kenny Wong (MEHS63, M69) stood 6th.
  
• Brother Austin relocated to Malaysia after the Nationalization of schools.
  He did not live long enough to see his obstinate student become mature and flexible.

Awards

• I received prizes and awards from RUBC.
• I received several awards (e.g. Distinguished Toastmaster) from Toastmasters International.
• I received three Appreciation Awards for “RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates.
  The first one was at SPZP-2000.
  The second one was at the Soon Kwyay Gathering at Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay, California.
  The third one was at the Annual Dinner of NorCal RITAA.

• The prize that I cherish most is the Smile and the occasional “slap on the back” by my beloved parents, sayas, sayamas, colleagues and friends.