Mat Somit is a 22 year old scholarship student in his second year at Build Bright University in Siem Reap.  He is originally from Kompont Thom, the central province in Cambodia which lies between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. 

            Somit comes from a family of five boys; his parents are rice farmers in the rainy season and grow watermelon in the dry season.  He manages to go home and see his family four to five times a year, but it is difficult because of his busy schedule.  All of his brothers are in school; one of them is a year away from graduating high school.  He is grateful for the scholarship because it is difficult for his parents to support the brother’s education as farmers. 

            In his time in Siem Reap, Somit has worked a number of jobs.  He taught English in Angkor Capital School for a year, and now teaches English at the language school at Wat Chork.  He has also worked for the assistant sales coordinator during a Cambodian culture expo in December of 2006 and January of 2007. 

            At Build Bright University Somit majors in Tourism and Hospitality, and his days are busy working and completing his studies.  He wakes up at 5am to study, works as a teacher in the afternoon and has a new job at a hotel, where he works for most of the evening.  On the weekends Somit enjoys going to temple and visiting with his friends.

            After graduating from Build Bright University Somit hopes to study abroad, in either Japan or the United States.  If he does not end up studying abroad he wants to get a job in the tourism industry in Siem Reap.  Somit has two years left at university and is working hard every day to accomplish his goals.