“Believe” to Move Forward
“I believe in you,” Thidamas Temsan (Dew), a Teach For Thailand (TFT) Fellow (cohort 2), said to Leo right before he went on stage to present his campaign. That very short sentence gave Leo the boost he needed to speak to the public and run for student president.
Tatti Jaemasukkasaem (New) and Theerapun Tossamran (Leo) met Dew while studying in junior high school at Watsamngam School. Dew’s ability to understand and empathize had an impact on them, pushing them to pursue a degree in the Faculty of Education in college.
“As a child, I dreamt of sharing my knowledge,” Leo told us. “And Kru Dew really inspired me to dare to do things and taught me that failing is okay. She’d just say, ‘Next time we’ll do better.’”
New agrees, “I also liked how she taught. I’m slow, especially in Maths and Science, but she adjusted her pace for me. Also, our ages weren’t too far apart, so it was easy to talk to her. I was shy but could open up to her.”
“Kru Dew gave us much good advice and motivation. In the 10th Grade, there was a student president election, and I chickened out right before going on stage, but Kru Dew said she believed in me – that gave me the push,” Leo shared with us.
For extracurricular activities, Dew made her students comfortable around her by playing sports with them, tutoring, or playing Sudoku together.
“Kru Dew had a Sudoku group and encouraged me to join,” New told us. “She also had a group playing the 24-Game and invited me. When I played with the group, Leo was very good at it, and Kru Dew complimented him.”
“The questions were easy, and I could answer, and everybody was cheering,” New got excited recalling this part.
The most memorable times for both Leo and New were when they got to study, play, and consult with Kru Dew about their friends and families.
“When I had a problem that I didn’t know who to confide in, Kru Dew became my safe zone. It could be about my hobby or everyday things – it was almost like having a friend, on top of having a teacher,” New shared.
“Kru Dew was very understanding. Since our ages were close, the conversation was natural. She came to visit my mom and consulted with her, exchanged ideas with her students, and if I had a question, I could trust she wouldn’t hold back on her answers.”
We asked if they had not met Kru Dew, and what they would be like.
“I wouldn’t have chosen to study in the Faculty of Education. I was torn between Engineering and Education, and Kru Dew suggested the latter, so I pursued my dream,” Leo told us.
For New, it was more about his perspective. “I could perceive things very differently – pessimistically — and wouldn’t enjoy studying as much as I do now.”
At the end of the interview, New and Leo wanted to convey their message to Kru Dew.
“It’s been almost 9 years, and we really miss Kru Dew. I’m pursuing my dreams with full determination, and I hope to make you proud. I just want to let you know that I miss you and really love you,” New said.
“I miss her very much. Since she left, we never saw her again. I remember my last day studying here; she hugged me for the last time, then she was gone. I want to let her know that I’ve finished my degree as a teacher and can become one now.”
