1 degree in finance, 1 degree in teaching, 1 exchange programme in the US: ‘I’m only going to be 23 once’

Can’t decide on a major? In Cambodia, there’s a creative solution: just get them all.

During the 2010s, juggling two or more degrees at once became a growing trend among Cambodian students.

It even raised enough eyebrows for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s spokesman Ros Salin to step in, warning that piling on majors might not be as effective as focusing on one path.

Yet, some students have successfully challenged that notion. Muylin Saing is one such example.

She completed a Bachelor’s in Banking and Finance degree at Paragon International University in 2024, followed by a Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2025.

Thanks to her finance degree, Muylin was able to experience her very first white Halloween. Source: Muylin Saing

Why do people get multiple degrees?

Muylin grew up in Siem Reap province, home to Angkor Wat and other ancient temples that draw in crowds of tourists year-round.

Growing up surrounded by visitors from all over the world made her curious about their cultures and languages. That’s how she fell in love with English, even dreaming of becoming a United Nations interpreter.

But somewhere along the way, she realised that she enjoyed teaching. It wasn’t a hard decision though; teaching was already a big part of her life.

Muylin comes from a family of educators. Some of her earliest memories were of following her mother into the classroom, watching her teach with patience and care.

That passion only grew as she got older. Muylin loves working with students, creating engaging learning materials, and connecting with new people.

Still, she had to be practical.

“After high school, I looked at careers with better prospects,” she explains. “In Cambodia, the banking and finance sector is huge, which is why I decided to get a finance degree too.”

Muylin really took her mother’s advice to travel as much as possible. She’s been to Seattle, Minnesota, Chicago, Illinois, and Disneyland in Florida. Source: Muylin Saing

‘I want to taste McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A’

Getting a teaching and finance degree wasn’t easy for Muylin.

She was raised in a traditional and conservative community, where she’s “always been the odd one; I’m a very curious person and I wanted to leave home to see what the outside world was like.”

That didn’t sit well with everyone. Some still believed it was wrong for a girl to move away for school.

Fortunately, her family took a more progressive view and fully supported her decision.

“I’m only going to be 23 once,” she says. “After this, it’s family obligations and adulthood. I want to live while I still can.”

Her greatest ally was her mother; someone who knew exactly what it meant to go against expectations.

With little growing up, she worked tirelessly to put herself through university in Phnom Penh and earned a bachelor’s degree on her own.

Because of that journey, she pushes her children to dream bigger — to get at least a master’s degree.

Some relatives questioned her choices. They asked why she would let her daughter go so far from home. What if something happened? Wouldn’t she be worried?

But her mother never gave in. “It’s her life,” she would reply. “Whatever she wants to do, I’ll be there to support her.”

With that kind of backing, Muylin was determined to study abroad. She looked for scholarships and connected with anyone who could help and eventually applied for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Programme (Global UGRAD).

In between her finance degree, Muylin would take time to unwind at campus events, like a football game. Source: Muylin Saing

Was it worth it to study in the US?

Thanks to the Global UGRAD programme, Muylin got to study at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Her favourite part was joining the Seidman Investment Portfolio Organisation (IPO), a student-led group that manages a US$150,000 investment fund.

The organisation focuses on shaping its members into skilled business professionals through training, mentorship, and hands-on experience.

“I loved that we were trusted with real money to invest in stocks,” she says. “We’d study the markets, research mutual funds, and pitch our investment proposals to a board. If our case was strong, they’d invest. It was so thrilling.”

Muylin also went on a company visit and attended a sharing session, where she met with the Vice President of the Bank of America.

“That was huge for me,” she says. “Moments like that are what really matter. I can study business theory back home, but that kind of networking? I cannot get it anywhere else.”

When she wasn’t busy with her finance degree, Muylin spent time with her host family. They introduced her to American traditions, like pumpkin carving. Source: Muylin Saing

A second family across the ocean

While studying in the US, Muylin was paired with a host family through a local church.

Even though she’s Buddhist, they welcomed her like one of their own. “They shared their faith with me, and I shared mine with them,” she explains. She went to church with them and prayed before meals.

“I wanted to experience it,” she says. “Westerners who visit Cambodia often go to Buddhist temples and join our customs, so I thought — why not do the same?”

Over time, her host family felt like a real family. When she was leaving, they gave her a Bible as a farewell gift.

And at 2 a.m., her host dad and his 12-year-old son followed her to the airport.

Her host brother helped carry her luggage, and the family stayed by her side through check-in. “They didn’t leave until I was past security. They just wanted to make sure I was safe,” she says.

“I got such a precious family from my time in the US.”

Studying her finance degree at Grand Valley State University opened Muylin to a “truly business-like environment.” Source: Muylin Saing

A graduate’s #1 advice to anyone who wants to study finance

Today, Muylin is back in Cambodia, working at Maybank as a Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Executive.

For students with a finance degree wondering how to boost their career prospects, her advice is simple: it depends on your goals.

“If you want a general role, like a project coordinator or project manager, employers look for someone with diverse experiences across different industries. It shows that you’re flexible, resilient, and versatile in managing work,” she explains.

“But if you want a more specialised job, like working in an audit firm, becoming an investment analyst, or a marketing executive, then you need to focus on developing specialised skills.”

Academics aside, Muylin strongly encourages students to get involved in extracurricular activities. During her time at university, she:

• Volunteered with environmental and public health organisations
• Served as a campus ambassador for a commercial bank
• Interned as an investment analyst at a private equity firm

She believes these experiences, coupled with her time abroad, helped her stand out.

“I cannot imagine submitting my CV with my degree alone,” she says. “My time in the US really highlighted that I can work with people from all kinds of nationalities, that I’m resilient, and that I can adapt easily.”

Muylin ended her exchange programme by meeting other Global UGRAD participants in Washington D.C., where they shared and reflected on their experiences. Source: Muylin Saing

Choosing passion over money

As for her future, Muylin’s still figuring out what’s next. However, she feels drawn towards the education field.

“It may not necessarily be teaching,” she explains, “but I want to work with an international non-profit organisation that supports children from marginalised communities. My ultimate goal is to help children and youth reach their fullest potential.”

For her, passion matters more than a title or a paycheck. “Otherwise, it’s just clocking in and clocking out,” she says. “At the end of the day, you ask yourself, ‘what have I really accomplished?’ And you don’t know.”

She understands that money is a concern for many but believes there’s always a balance.

“Teaching can mean lower wages. But teaching at a university is different from teaching in a high school — it depends on the path you choose. There’s always a way to find a middle ground between your passion, your needs, and the income you want to earn.”