Ellie’s Pathway

Four years ago, Ellie arrived at Bangkok Patana during one of the most disorienting periods imaginable: the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A transition to a rigorous international curriculum was daunting enough—but doing it over Zoom made everything more surreal. “Even through online lessons, I could already tell how different it would be,” she says. Engagement came quickly and naturally. Whether in classrooms, on treks through the rain-soaked hills of Chiang Rai, or surrounded by preschoolers at the Likhit Daycare, Ellie embedded herself deeply in the Patana community. Over four years, she not only adapted—she thrived.

Ellie completed all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DofE)—Bronze, Silver and Gold. “It was like survival training,” she laughs. “There were moments during the rainy season practice trek when the mud was knee-deep, and everything was slippery, but somehow that made the final expedition more enjoyable.” DofE gave her a taste for discomfort, challenge and personal growth—all themes that echo in her chosen career path: Medicine. “I’ve always loved science,” she says, “but what really drew me to medicine was how no two patients are ever the same. There’s constant learning.” Her father works in finance, and the idea of an office job felt too static. “I shadowed doctors and realized I liked the unpredictability. There’s always something new. That excites me.”

Ellie’s community spirit extended well beyond the outdoors. As part of the World Food Project, she helped organise food drives and delivered care packages directly to Bangkok’s underserved neighborhoods. “We’d walk through these narrow soi’s, hand-delivering boxes to families, some of whom couldn’t leave their homes,” she recalls. “It really put into perspective how lucky I am. It made me want to do more.” That same spirit found a place each week at Likhit Daycare, where Ellie spent hours playing, teaching and watching toddlers grow. “It was incredible seeing how fast they changed. One week they were coloring outside the lines, and the next they were sharing crayons and forming sentences,” she says, “It reminded me of how much early support matters.”

In the classroom, Ellie pursued Higher Level Chemistry, Biology and Business. She also studied Japanese, partly to deepen her love for anime, but also to connect with more people. “Language lets you enter someone else’s world,” she says, “That’s powerful.” Outside academics, she unwinds through anime, gaming and bouldering—an activity introduced to her by a close friend.

What will she miss most about Patana? “The facilities, of course. But more than that, my friends. Everyone’s going to different parts of the world. That’s the hardest part. And the teachers—I’ve learned so much from them.”

Ellie is set to begin her six-year medical degree at Rangsit University, with interests in surgery or gynecology—though she’s keeping her options open. “That’s what med school is for,” she says. “To figure it out.”