From Parami to Berlin: How liberal arts helped two students navigate a new academic journey

May La Won Lwin and Htet Won Yan at the Bard College Berlin campus

When May La Won Lwin & Htet Won Yan arrived at Bard College Berlin, they expected a new academic culture, unfamiliar challenges, and a steep learning curve. Instead, they discovered something unexpected: they were already prepared.

Now in their third year at Bard College Berlin, the two students recently completed their Associate Degree at Parami University in 2025. Looking back, they say their time at Parami laid the foundation not only for academic success abroad but also for the confidence to navigate new environments and challenges. 

"There haven't been many academic challenges," May La reflected. "Parami trained us really well—not only academically but also socially. More importantly, it taught us how to ask questions, reflect on ourselves and the world around us, and find ways to cope with challenges."

Those skills, they say, have proven to be just as valuable as subject knowledge.

For Htet, studying at Bard College Berlin has also given them a new perspective on the education they received at Parami.

"Even though Parami was online when we studied there, the quality and learning environment were excellent," Htet said. "Now that I can compare it with Bard Berlin, I realize the excellence is real. The quality of teaching, the professors, and the comprehensive support from staff are more or less the same."

Their experience challenges a common assumption that an online education is somehow less rigorous or engaging. Instead, they found that Parami's commitment to academic excellence translated into skills and confidence that carried across borders.

One aspect of Parami they particularly miss is its academic advising system.

At Bard Berlin, professors serve as academic advisors, primarily focusing on coursework and academic progress. While Htet appreciates that support, they believe Parami offered something even more distinctive.

"The advisors at Parami cared about much more than academics," Htet said. "They were genuinely interested in our personal lives, our well-being, and how we were doing socially. That kind of support is really unique, and I miss it."

Beyond academics, both students also miss the sense of community they built at Parami.

Although they have formed meaningful friendships with classmates from around the world, there is something irreplaceable about the friendships they built with fellow Parami students—friends who shared similar languages, experiences, and aspirations.

"I really miss my friends from Parami," May La shared. "My international friends are wonderful, but it's different when you're with people who understand your stories and the challenges you've gone through together."

Their advice to current students is simple: cherish the community around you.

"Value your friends at Parami," May La said. "Study together, learn from one another, and create memories—whether online or in person. Those moments matter more than you realize."

Looking back, both students agree that perhaps the most enduring lesson they carried with them was not found in a single course or assignment.

"It was having an open mind and staying curious," they said.

That mindset has helped them navigate new classrooms, cultures, and conversations in Berlin. More importantly, it is something they believe can be applied anywhere—in higher education, in the workplace, and in everyday life.

As May La and Htet continue their academic journeys abroad, their story reflects what a liberal arts education at Parami University strives to cultivate: graduates who are intellectually curious, resilient, and prepared to contribute thoughtfully wherever life takes them.