Phuket’s BIS students look to the future

PHUKET: Students from the British International School Phuket (BIS) were all smiles on Friday, May 24 as they celebrated their graduation from the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

There were 47 students in the Class of 2013 and no doubt all of them felt relieved to have completed the intensive two-year IB course. Students now begin the nail-biting wait to receive their final marks and to find out whether they have been accepted into the university of their choice.

During the graduation ceremony, school CEO Apiwat Ourairat congratulated students for their hard work and dedication and wished them well for their future endeavors.

Head students Natacha Kitchakarn and Kanisorn Jatumatmetee delivered touching speeches detailing the support from teachers and camaraderie with fellow students they experienced during their time at the school.

Mr Jatumatmetee went so far as to name every one of his classmates, along with some of their endearing foibles or the nicknames they had earned during their school years.

Hyun Jung Kim was named class Valedictorian and three more students received awards for their excellence in aspects of the IB program. In addition to standard subjects, IB students also study the Theory of Knowledge, complete a 4,000 word extended essay, and undergo a 150-hour CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) program.

Charlotte Joy Trudgill was presented with the award for excellence in the Theory of Knowledge. Maria Isabelle Becker garnered the award for best extended essay and head student Natacha Kitchakarn was presented with the Creative Action Service (CAS) award.

Following the ceremony, students gathered for a class photo and the traditional throwing of their mortar boards into the air.

The celebrations continued into the evening with a formal dinner at the Karon Beach Hilton.

BIS was founded in 1996, and since that time its graduates have attained admission to universities all over the world, and this year will be no exception; graduating students will attend universities in 15 different countries.

The Phuket Gazette spoke to several students, whose interests range from sports to science and the arts, about their hopes and plans for the future. Isabelle Becker is a talented artist. She has been awarded as the top International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) student in the world for her art work and says that forging a career as an artist is her “ideal job”. Isabelle plans to study at the University of the Arts London Central St Martins and says she is thrilled at the opportunity to live and study abroad.

Bianca Goetz has not only excelled in her studies, but is a champion swimmer with eyes on the 2016 Olympic games. She undertakes a rigorous training regime which sees her swimming for four hours a day in addition to doing her normal schoolwork. “Swimming is my life” she says, and she has been accepted at Ohio State University in the US on a swimming scholarship.

Vanida Moskovitz-Legrain sees her future in filmmaking and is planning to study drama and theater at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. Before embarking on her university studies, she wants to take some time off to travel and do volunteer work.

Pongpol ‘Tee’ Trisuwan is fascinated by logic and problem solving and says he is looking forward to the challenging study environment of Imperial College London.

He plans to study computer science and hopes to one day open his own company. He said that his teachers were an inspiration to him during his time at BIS, often going beyond coursework to discuss the philosophical aspects of the subjects they teach.

Popthum ‘Kidd’ Lawtongkum was particularly excited about finishing school, so excited in fact, that he hurt his leg jumping for joy after finishing his final exam and attended the ceremony on crutches. He has been accepted to study biomedical science at the University of South Hampton.

As part of his extended essay project, Kidd undertook a scientific study of the effectiveness of a traditional Thai medicinal herb compared to modern drugs. He said conducting the study was fascinating and in part inspired him to go into biomedical science.

With so many bright young students, it’s clear that the BIS graduating class of 2013 has a promising future ahead of them.

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— Mark Knowles