Flyer with global goals

In August 2023, Zay Min Htike stepped off a plane onto U.S. soil for the very first time. His next stop — UD’s campus. As a finance and business analytics major, the native of Myanmar has already made his mark as a Flyer.

Htike said it was a relief to study at Dayton, given the political turmoil in Myanmar, where he said his “life had been overthrown from the mess of wars.” And it has always been his dream to live in another country, so Htike felt it was best for him to come to the United States for a better higher education opportunity.

Htike said he was first introduced to Dayton through a partnership that UD has with his high school back home. Getting a good education has always been important to him, and he knew that it was something he could get at UD. 

“I’ve felt a deep resonance with the Marianist values at UD, especially the commitment to community and service,” he said.

Coming from a predominantly Buddhist country, he said, he sees the connection to UD’s Marianist values. 

“At their core, I believe Buddhism and Marianist traditions are more similar than different, since both religions emphasize compassion, care for others and responsibility to the world around us,” he said. “For me, these ideals go beyond religion and reflect a shared human responsibility.” 

As he got more comfortable on campus and in the U.S., Htike joined several student organizations to focus on his passions. He joined the Student Leaders Program and the Sustainability Student Leaders Program, which is a part of the Hanley Sustainability Institute. 

“I want to make the most out of [my college experience] because who knows how long I will be here,” he said.

Through HSI, last year he created a clothing swap project where students could donate clothes they no longer needed and take new ones in exchange. Htike designed the system, managed marketing and oversaw logistics of the event. Nearly 50 students are engaged in the project, and he plans to establish a permanent location for the clothing swap to promote circularity and sustainability on campus. 

For the project, Htike was awarded the Emerging Leader Award. But he did not want to stop there. 

He became HSI’s Zero Waste Specialist during the summer, and his Clothing Swap Project has become a monthly event. Seeing other students’ shared interest in sustainability, and being the new student director of communication and outreach, he’s also decided to start a sustainability podcast. While his first episode is still in the works, it will be entirely student-focused, he said. He wants to engage as many Dayton students as possible in environmental issues. 

“I want it to be fun; I want students to be able to relate to all things sustainability,” he said.  

Hitke’s dream of starting his own business is getting closer with each class he takes, he said, and his interest continues to grow with his out-of-class activities. Although he is not exactly sure what business he wants to start, he knows he wants it to benefit his home country of Myanmar. 

“[Being in the U.S.] is such a privilege that not a lot of people have, and especially since my country is at war, I do not want to take this opportunity for granted,” he said.

All photos contributed.