First generation college graduate Lah “SweE” Paw on engaging with opportunity
Lah “Swee” Paw surprised herself when she stood before a classroom of young learners during her practicum at Davis Elementary School. The self-described introvert once couldn’t have imagined engaging a group of children on her own, but on this day, she confidently led them through a lesson and then jumped in to help them trace letters.
“My student teaching experience really changed me,” Paw says. “It’s then that I knew I could really be an early childhood educator.”
This May, Paw will graduate from UNC Greensboro with her degree in human development and family studies with a concentration in early childhood education, the first in her Thai-Karen family to earn a degree. As she finishes the semester with a freshly signed contract to teach Kindergarten in Durham this fall, she shares how her university experience gave her the confidence to find her profession.
First generation college student finds her way
Until the age of 10, Paw lived in Thailand with her mother and sister. When she arrived in North Carolina in 2014, she began attending school and learning English.
“I didn’t know if I would attend college, but when I toured UNCG’s campus, I knew this was the place for me,” Paw says.
It took her a few semesters to get her bearings, preferring the safety of her dorm room. But soon she accepted invitations to join student clubs, including the Human Development and Family Studies Club and the Vietnamese Student Association. Both gave her an opportunity to meet new people and spread her wings.
“A classmate in my BIO 111 class asked me to join the Vietnamese Student Association, and I realized it was a good chance for me to be involved on campus,” she says. “Now I’m the treasurer and I also performed the Vietnamese traditional fan dance at the International Night last semester.
“As an introvert I was really nervous,” she continues, “but I’m so glad I did it. It really helped me take another step to gaining confidence with being in front of other people.”
Paw’s sister, Bway Paw, came to UNCG a year after Paw, making a unique shared experience for the siblings.
“Her first year was really fun because I was able to walk her around the campus and help her navigate her classes,” she says. “We also lived together starting her second year, so it was incredible to do this together.”
A Leader Emerges
Paw was also nominated to join the Health and Human Sciences Leadership Program by one of her professors.
“I met so many friends in the program, and it made me step out of my comfort zone,” Paw says. “I was required to do a lot of public speaking, which terrified me, but I was able to overcome that fear.”
During the program, Paw represented her human development and family studies major and participated in networking, mentoring events, and workshops designed to develop her leadership skills, practice professional communication, manage projects, and more with her peers.
“The leadership program really gave me more confidence in my ability to lead and communicate, which I’ll definitely need in the classroom,” Paw says.
Paw used those skills in her practicum experience both on campus at the Childhood Education Center and during her time student teaching at Davis Elementary School.
“It has been a pleasure to watch Swee develop as a student, educator, and leader over the past few years,” says Jennifer Jones, assistant professor and student teaching coordinator for the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. “I have watched her grow from a quiet student in an introductory course to becoming an active member of our student group, Collaborative of Human Development Professionals (CHP) Executive Board, to fully embracing the teaching profession during her internship.”
The hands-on practicum, where she was given the opportunity to lead a preschool class, was a pivotal experience that confirmed her career choice.
“I never thought I would go from an introvert to confidently leading a classroom, but I realized that I was comfortable and confident with the kids,” Paw says.
A Bright Future Awaits
This August, Paw will begin co-teaching Kindergarten at Christian Academy in Durham. She’s grateful for the experiential learning, mentoring, and support she received at UNCG, crediting it with helping her discover what she wanted to do after college.
“At UNCG having a community was everything,” Paw says. “Every opportunity offered to me opened me up to more people and gave me the confidence to expand my friend group and express who I am.”
Written by Alice Manning Touchette
Photography by Sean Norona and courtesy of Swee Paw
CELEBRATE OUR GRADS!
Graduates and their families are encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media by tagging the University accounts and using the hashtag #UNCGGrad. Visit UNCG’s digital swag page for Commencement-themed graphics and templates.
Mention @UNCG in celebratory posts on Instagram and X and @uncgreensboro on TikTok.
