For the third time in Myanmar history, the country is going to have a democratic election on Nov. 8. 

On a smaller scale, Chin State is also going through an election known as Chin State Hluttaw on the same date. Just like in the U.S., the tensions are high, and both sides are trying their best to win. 

The two current runners are more like parties, rather than individual runners. The two main parties are the Chin National League for Democracy and the National League for Democracy.

However, Chin students of SHS are feeling a disconnection with the politics and what events are going on in general. 

Sophomore Tha Tha Zi also feels that learning about the political climate in Myanmar is a difficult thing to do for Chin students. 

“I’m not surrounded by it,” Zi said. “It’s hard for me to get motivated for me to learn.” 

With the U.S.’s own current political climate right now, something like Chin State politics is a situation not being talked about much right now. 

Junior Philip Uk says that his disconnection stems from his upbringing. 

“I kinda grew up more in the U.S. than I did in Burma,” Uk said. “ More of my knowledge was about U.S. history, not Burma history.”

In the U.S., students like Uk do not get the same education of Myanmar’s history like they do about the U.S. Unless he does research about it himself, he does not have any kind of knowledge and does not receive any education about the political climate in Chin state.   

“I don’t really care about Burmese politics or the U.S. politics in general,” Uk said.

SHS does offer classes like AP World History, but even classes like those do not really get into the topics of current political climates in countries like Myanmar.  

Science teacher Miriam Mawi says as a Chin person, she encourages students to be informed about the events happening in Myanmar. 

“I think it’s still important because, Myanmar, it’s still our country, even though we live here,” Mawi said. “I think it’s a good idea to keep up with the politics in Myanmar because one day the students here might have a chance to go back there and help.”

Mawi also has advice for those who want to stay in touch with Myanmar politics.

“Check the news but don’t believe everything you see,” Mawi said.