Paul Sum and Lian Nu proudly show off their HSED diplomas (opposite). The couple studied together and received a lot of support from MATC on their journey to high school completion.
An immigrant couple from Myanmar, Paul Sum and Lian Nu worked together to get their high school equivalency diplomas from MATC
Love, the good book says, is patient and kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love, along with the rewarding, productive programs and committed instructors found at MATC, helped Paul Sum and Lian Nu, a married couple who came to the United States from Malaysia in 2014, vastly improve their English and, more importantly, earn their High School Equivalency Diplomas (HSED).
The couple, who took English classes at the same time, demonstrated competency in a variety of subjects in the college’s HSED 5.09 program and received their diplomas in 2023.
“Having a high school diploma is key to everything for us,” said Lian, mother to the couple’s three children. “You can get a job, you can go to college and you can make a better future.”
Both Paul and Lian (right) were born in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. They grew up in the same town in Chin State, a mountainous and sparsely populated area in western Myanmar. They belong to an ethnic group called Zomi, who often faced discrimination and persecution, according to the United Nations. The couple attended the same church, and their families knew each other. They married in 2009 but quickly left Myanmar because of the strife and turmoil affecting the country.
In neighboring Malaysia, Paul worked while Lian attended college for a year before staying at home to raise their children. In 2014, Lutheran Social Services found them a place in the United States: Milwaukee. “They told us we were going somewhere very cold,” Lian said.
They arrived in the United States on June 18, 2014, knowing hardly anyone. They struggled to find work and to get around. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the entire family caught the virus.
“We had no car. We didn’t speak much English,” Paul said. “It was a very difficult life.”
The couple also discovered that nearly every job in the United States required a high school diploma. Without proof of completing high school in Myanmar, the couple decided to go back to school and get an American high school degree.“We almost gave up so many times, but my husband encouraged me, and I encouraged him. He kept reminding me that we needed to fight for this.”
They read online about MATC and had several friends tell them about the college. They began attending English as a second language classes and then started the HSED 5.09 program, a competency-based option designed to be completed in one to two semesters. Students in the 5.09 program must demonstrate mastery of competencies identified by the Wisconsin Technical College System in communication, social studies, science, math, health, civics and employability.
Earning a high school equivalency diploma can help individuals improve their chances to find work, increase earnings and pursue additional education, said Holly Thielen, MATC’s 5.09 HSED program coordinator.
For Paul and Lian, the path was even thornier because they were strengthening their English at the same time. “They were essentially enrolled in two programs,” Thielen said. “And that is not easy.”
While taking classes, Paul found work at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oak Creek, and Lian cared for the couple's three children, who were 13, 12, and 8 at the time. The days were long, but they wanted to improve their lives.
“We almost gave up so many times,” Lian said. “But my husband encouraged me, and I encouraged him. He kept reminding me that we needed to fight for this.”
The couple praised their ESL instructor, Tammy Ginster, for her patience and encouragement. “She never tired of teaching us,” Lian said. “Many times my body was in class, but my mind was elsewhere, thinking about cooking, cleaning. She helped us focus.”
“Their perseverance has been inspirational,” Ginster said. “They have been juggling English classes along with a busy family life, work responsibilities, and church and community involvement. It has not been easy for them, and even when they felt discouraged, they always seemed to find a way to move forward with positivity. It has been my pleasure and good fortune to have had the opportunity to work with such lovely and inspiring people.”
After getting his diploma, Paul enrolled in MATC’s Audio Production program. He plans to earn his associate degree in the spring of 2026 and work as a sound engineer. Lian is caring for the couple’s three children.
“We are so, so proud to have finally made it,” Paul said in 2023. “Without a high school diploma it is hard to get a job anywhere in America. As immigrant parents, we are the example for our children. We want to encourage them and show them our efforts.”