Alexander’s Pathway to the World of Archaeology

The ruins of an ancient temple in Greece. A Roman dig site in Northern England. The shadowy remains of Viking settlements. For Alexander, history is more than something written in books—it is something to be unearthed, examined and understood. “I’ve always been fascinated by ancient civilizations,” he says, his eyes lighting up at the thought. “It started with Greek myths and Percy Jackson when I was younger, but over time, I became more interested in the real stories behind those myths—the ruins, the artifacts, the people who lived thousands of years ago.” Now, as he prepares to leave Bangkok Patana School, Alexander is ready to turn his passion into a career with plans to study Archaeology and Ancient history.

Born in Delhi, India, raised in Thailand with roots in Australia, Alexander has spent his life in the heart of Southeast Asia, but his mind has always been elsewhere—roaming the ruins of ancient cities, imagining the lives of those who came before. His defining moment came on a birthday trip to Greece, where he stood among the ancient ruins he had only seen in books. “That was it for me,” he recalls, “Walking through those temples, seeing the craftsmanship, feeling the weight of history—I knew I wanted to study archaeology.” His passion has only grown over the years. In 2023, a trip to the UK took him to Vindolanda, a Roman-era excavation site where he spoke to working archaeologists. “That was when I knew for sure—I wanted to be in the field, not just reading about it,” he says. Now, he is looking ahead to university, with his sights set on Newcastle and Durham. “It’s going to be a big change from Thailand,” he admits. “But that’s part of the excitement.”

Alexander’s love for history wasn’t just a personal passion—it shaped his academic choices. For IB, he took History, English, and Art at Higher Level, alongside Spanish, Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) and Core Math. His Extended Essay (EE) explored how the Nazis appropriated German folklore, a topic that deepened his understanding of how history can be shaped—and distorted. “At first, I thought writing my EE would be just another school project,” he says with a laugh. “But I actually enjoyed it. I guess that’s how you know you’re on the right path.”

Outside the classroom, Alexander was active in school life, competing in the History Bee and engaging in historical research. His summer experiences also reinforced his love for fieldwork. Last summer, he joined an environmental aid project, learning research techniques similar to those used in archaeology—sampling, mapping and surveying. “It wasn’t archaeology exactly, but it gave me hands-on experience in data collection and analysis,” he explains. “It made me realise how much I love fieldwork.” And he isn’t stopping there. Before heading to University, Alexander has decided to take a year off and explore more during his gap year, he hopes to join an archaeological dig with a family friend, an experienced archaeologist.

Leaving Bangkok Patana after so many years won’t be easy. “I think the hardest part will be saying goodbye to my friends,” he admits. “Since we’re all international students, we’re scattering across the world. Some are going to Europe, some to the UK. It’ll be weird not seeing them every day.”

Now, as he steps into this next chapter, Alexander is eager to continue exploring the past—from Greek temples to Viking longhouses to Roman ruins. “I just love the idea of uncovering stories that have been buried for centuries,” he says. “There’s something incredible about being able to touch history—literally.” With his sights set on Europe, his hands ready to dig, and his heart set on discovery, Alexander is stepping into a future built on the past.

And for him, this is only the beginning.