- Charissa Enget, 29, was granted a full-ride scholarship to earn a master's degree in Thailand.
- She thought the campus was in Bangkok, but it was in Khampaeng Saen — a district two hours away.
- After returning to the US, she found out the degree was not American-accredited, but it inspired her side business.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charissa Enget, a content creator and cybersecurity architect who gained her graduate degree in Thailand. It has been edited for length and clarity.