Hello, I am Chan Hyuk Park from South Korea, and studying mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

I am a first-generation student. Despite growing up in poverty, I was accepted into Cambridge—but I had to turn down the offer because I couldn’t afford the tuition fees.

I tried again—doing everything I could. I was accepted once more, and this time, I made it through the first year. But without tuition for the second, I may have to leave again.

After my father’s business failed, I grew up in deep rural poverty. In a small, unheated room—often without electricity or internet—I studied alone—and made it to university. But then COVID hit. I had finished high-school with government aid, but couldn’t afford to stay in university. Although eligible for exemption, I enlisted in the military which provided me food and shelter, and a small salary to support my parents.

Raised with Christian values, I believed in meaning over money. That belief sustained me—even when I resented being poor. Still, I often resented being poor.

But in the military, supporting operations in Afghanistan changed my view on hardship: it’s the default for many.

I saw how many people live in pain—so much that hope feels out of reach. I couldn’t accept that. No one should be denied the right to dream. I wanted to prove things can change. That even one person, starting from nothing, can make change possible. I chose to take on the impossible—and study abroad.

I worked by day and studied by night—giving up meals, sleep, and comfort to stay focused. Within a year, I was offered a place at Cambridge.

But I still couldn’t afford it. Most funding excludes Korea, as it's considered a developed country. In the end, I had to give up my place.

Then, one scholarship opened up—a highly competitive, merit-only award for a handful of top students in Korea. It was my last chance. I couldn’t walk away from it. I pushed even harder, applied again, and was re-accepted to Cambridge. I reached the final shortlist of five. But in the end, I wasn’t selected.

On the verge of giving up, I realised I wasn’t alone in the belief that everyone deserves a chance to dream. Someone offered to sponsor me after reading my story. Grateful and surprised, I prepared to leave for the UK. But the night before my flight, I was told they could no longer help—due to an unexpected business crisis.

I was more devastated—but I didn’t forget the kindness behind that offer. It reminded me that the world still holds hope. So I boarded the plane with one thought in mind:

Let’s just try. Let’s face it head-on.

That’s how I started to live in Cambridge.

With the money I’d saved and a loan, I made it through my first year. But I needed funding for the second. I applied to internships, but most rejected first-years—deepening a fear I’ve always carried: that I don’t truly belong in this society.

Even in doubt, life here has been more fulfilling than I ever imagined. Studying with peers from around the world, I feel alive.

And here, opportunities do exist: Just one year in quant finance can earn what would take my father ten. So I made a promise —I will survive and succeed here.

But now, I’m standing at another cliff: I cannot afford my second-year tuition. I’m reaching out for help - not just to finish a degree, but to prove that poverty does not have to kill dreams.

I’ve tried to live by that belief myself, teaching underprivileged students and offering lessons they could afford. I want to pass this hope forward. To the students I’ll teach, to someone else who once stood where I stand now.

Thank you for reading my story. Be part of the next stage by joining me on the journey. Even the smallest donation or sharing of this story can help me fight one more year.

In hope,

Chan Hyuk Park