From True Understanding to True Courage
“If I were a teacher, I would improve both my students' academics and characteristics. I would encourage them, just like how Teacher Ving did,” Kittiphum Phonrat (Job) shared his dream. He was a student of Panisara Suksraem (Ving), a Teach For Thailand (TFT) Fellow (cohort 3).
At present, Job has successfully become a teacher and, in fact, was going to become a TFT Fellow but chose to work within the system instead.
Job had met Ving in high school, at Phayuha Witthaya School, where Ving had supported his team to win a short film competition. He never forgets how proud he was, and it reminds him of Ving.
“Teacher Ving was very understanding and always found a way to maximize students’ potential. She always said, ‘You can do it,’” recalled Job.
After the competition, Job and his team looked towards submitting an environmental documentary to a contest – another challenge where Ving stepped in.
“My friend wanted to create a documentary about the environmental impact on trees, and we had to shoot in Chiang Mai,” said Job. “At one point, I was discouraged because I’m not good at documentaries – I’ve only written scripts for short films.”
Job then asked Ving for advice.
“I wanted to quit. My strength was my knowledge of English, and apparently, this wouldn’t help my team in any way, but Teacher Ving asked what else I could do.”
“And I realized I could translate the script into English, so I stayed with the team.”
Despite the documentary not winning them any prizes, this helped Job recognize his other talents and potential, including the ones he had not tried before.
“Having met Teacher Ving, I dared to try new things without hesitation. I would just do it,” said Job with a smile.
“If not for her, I would still be afraid of trying, and would only do what I was good at.”
As a soon-to-be teacher, Job was inspired by Ving’s determination to encourage her students.
“If I were a teacher, I would improve both my students’ academics and characteristics. I would encourage them, just like how Teacher Ving did. It could be a small start, and then the whole class,” he concluded.
