A shining star with crutches and guitar

 "I want to be an inspiration to children with special needs," Milla Dawt Hniang, a polio survivor from Burma who has recently released her first CD in America told BBC during her interview. 

Based on her life experiences, Milla strongly believes that the physical disability could not stop her from reaching her goals. "No matter what condition your are in, just continue to chase your dreams," Milla says.

Milla is a singer/song writer from Maryland,Columbia. Her first solo album, titled "GONE", was released this month by Tate Music Group, in the United States of America. It is now available in Itunes,Amazon & Tate publishing. Being an ethnic woman who came from the mountainous region of Burma, I am so proud of Milla.

Milla was born in one of the under-developing areas of Burma,Chin state. There is still limited health care & education systems available in that area. Milla was diagnosed with polio at the age of one. Her childhood was not as simple & enjoyable as other children's. As she was unable to walk, she had to crawl around the house until she was 5 years old. Milla was not allowed to go to school. She spent most of her time by looking out the window and seeing other children running, playing and having fun with their friends. Her little head was full of endless questions.."why can't i ? ..why me?.

"Music was the only way i knew how to make myself happy at a very young age," Milla says. Her family did not own a TV but her neighbors did. Milla was able to discovered her passion for music through her neighbors' TVs. She started to listen to all types of music and started to sing along.She started to dream about being a singer in the future.

"I felt like i was finally 'normal' on my first day of school in America" she says. Milla moved to the United States around 2000 and started to enjoy learning and having friends at school. Her passion towards music grow stronger as days go by...Milla started to play guitar at 16, performed at weddings and church events and started to upload cover songs & videos to YouTube around 2007. The Tate Music Group in Oklahoma realized Milla's sweet & pleasing voice. She signed a contract with Tate and produced a CD of eight songs.Following song,"You are the reason", is one of her eight songs in the album.

 

Milla wrote down her feelings & experiences into songs. One of her songs, "Heaven", was the dedication to the innocent children who passed untimely during the incident at the Sandy Hook Elementary school. I was tearful while listening to the song via 88.1 FM( Midday with Dan Rodricks) without knowing that the singer was a young and brave girl from my country. When Dan Rodricks announced Milla's name, I was so proud to be a Burmese citizen...so proud to hear that one of us is able to contribute to the community here. Here is the song, "Heaven": 

 
Heaven(Written and performed by Milla, the dedication to innocent children who passed untimely during the incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School).

Regardless of her busy schedule, Milla answered my questions: 

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration?

Honestly, I can get inspired anytime and anywhere I am at to write a song. I can seriously be in a conversation with someone and in weird times like these I get an idea for a song. What I usually do is I literally take out my phone and go somewhere where no one is near, hum the melody or tune I have in my head and record it. I later go back to that recording and make it into a song. Some other times, I can be sitting at a restaurant and from thinking about something or someone I write down some lyrics on a napkin and I make sure to save that napkin so I can go back later and make it into a song. Mostly I write from the heart, when I feel an emotion or feeling emerging from a certain situation or an event that’s happened in my life.

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

Honestly, I am very close with my family and as far as getting into troubles doesn’t really happened. Everything I do is pretty much monitored. Not because my family is strict or anything, I tend to have a habit of making sure to tell my family anywhere I go any time of day. So I don’t really get into troubles, I am a rather boring person for my age. I don’t really go out with friends, party and drink. I am usually at home, eating dinner with my family, and watching some movies together.

 

Is there someone in your life who believed in you the most....even when you might have doubted yourself?

Yes and No at the same time. My family is so supportive of everything I want to do all my life. So they’re the only people who’ve ever believed in me. But of course the reason I say no is because before any of my music career started, school was a big issue for my family; which I understood 100%. I understand to the full extent that education is the way to life. When I told my family, music is what I want to do for life…..of course it took them a short time to really accept it. My parents and family wants the best for me and of course they only mean good intension. Once things started taking off, then they started seeing my true passion for music. I love my family through it all though and I know they love me.

 What makes you different? (What are the reasons why you have achieved this level of success while so many thousands of others have not?)

I think I can say that what makes me different from other people is that from all the difficulties I’ve faced have actually helped me developed a strong heart. I’ve learned to deal with a really difficult situation and look at the positives. I know I am not the only person with a visible disability, but at the same time no one in the world went through exactly what I went through. So as a 22-year-old polio survivor, I went through so many challenges that taught me so many life lessons. I’ve gained so much knowledge about myself as to who I am and what I want to become through those difficult challenges I’ve faced. I also feel that what makes me most different from other people is that I learned to developed a mature mindset because of the difficulties I went through. I had to grow up fast because of my disease. For example, when I was about 17 years old some older women called me out on my disability with harsh words and hurtful meanings towards me. I was so hurt inside, I felt so humiliated and I wanted to run away from that room. But I actually just smiled and kept my dignity and went forward with my business. I learned to tolerate being made fun of since I was young. These are situations that taught me how important it is to be good to people. No matter how difficult or ugly a situation gets, I’ve learn that it’s so important to deal with it only with a good heart. These are the things I’ve learned because of my disease.

Is there anything you would want to tell a teenager who is humiliated because of his/her physical disability?

If, honestly, a teenager with a physical disability come up to me and ask me this question…I know that, this person must be going through the worst times in his/her life so no matter how long it takes I will sit down with this person and cry with him/her. The best way to release these negative thoughts is to let it out and cry it out. Only after that one is able to accept oneself and learn to look at the positives. I would explain the meaning of this quote to the teenager: “It is good to focus on your ability and not your disability”. Everything has bad and good side. Nothing in the world has only good or bad side. Just like that, a human being can have many negative qualities as well as good ones. If you don’t accept yourself for who you are, no one in the world will. Only YOU can change how people look at you; if you accept yourself, people will accept you. Even if there are people who won’t and can’t accept you? It is all okay because this is part of life. Not everyone is going to like you no matter what. You can’t move on with your life if you focus on the negatives, you have to learn to accept the negatives and make new positive qualities about yourself. You can’t change your situations; it all depends on how you deal with your situation. Life is precious and is a gift from God so appreciate yourself and every moment you get to live. Learn to love and accept yourself, for who you are, because there is no one like you in the world, you’re one in a billion. Everyone is unique and different so don’t try to change yourself for anyone or for anything. Life is too precious for you to fall under the “norms” in what society expects you to become. So be yourself, follow your heart and go after your dreams!

 .    Based on your experience, what is the most challenging problem do disabled people face in Burma?  

I honestly feel like disable people in Burma are not looked at as “human beings”. They’re looked down on and people don’t expect much of them. And I feel that this is a huge problem, just because a person has a certain disability does not make him/her of a less human being. Disable people in Burma are not given any chances to do anything or to achieve anything for themselves at all.

For example, a blind person may need someone who can see to help them. But the person’s blindness is not what makes the person as a whole. I am pretty sure there are many more qualities about that blind person. This blind person may have incredible crafting skills! This is what makes a different for that blind person. There is so much more to a person than just by looking at them one time.

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”.

That’s the HUGE difference between the US and Myanmar. Here in the US disable people have the same rights and chances as the people with no disability. They are treated like how they should be treated.

 Anything you want to say to fans of your music, or aspiring musicians?

I want my supporters and fans to know that in everything you do, always put God first. Believe in yourself, no matter what situation you’re in. Especially for those who may have a visible disability, like myself, you have to learn to love yourself and believe that you can achieve your goals. One must learn to have a strong heart to endure pain. In life, you will always have some people who will try to get you down, but in return you should always be good to people. You must learn to accept that, you must fail first to be successful. No matter how long it takes you to reach your goals, never give up. Don’t dwell on the negatives in your situation. If someone like me can actually start a dream journey like this, then you can do it too!

 



Milla's performance (You are still the one)



Dear Milla, I am unable to reveal all the pain, bitterness and happiness that you have been going through. In a country like Burma where disabled rights are still being ignored by the society and government, it must be very hard for a girl with crutches to overcome all challenges. You stood strong and didn't give up your beliefs. As we all know, it is a big gap between Burma & the United states. Everyone who migrated from Burma to the States has to go through barriers such as cultures & languages.  You knocked down all these obstacles with your crutches and guitar.

Your achievement is a tremendous encouragement to the disabled populations in Burma. You are indeed a role model to us... not only for the disabled populations but also for ethnic women from Burma.

May all your dreams come true..keep on shining Milla.

(References: From Milla's interview with BBC, Baltimore Sun and Milla's facebook.)