Seiya’s Pathway: A Heart for Science

From a curious seven-year-old joining Bangkok Patana School to a passionate young woman heading to Trinity College Dublin to study medicine, Seiya’s 12-year journey has been one of discovery, compassion and commitment.

“My early years at Patana were just fun,” she says. “Primary was about exploring, trying everything that interested me.” For Seiya, that meant music. She joined the choir in Year 2 and never left. “I’ve been singing for 12 years,” she says proudly. While choir was her mainstay, she also plays piano, violin, cello, drums and a few more instruments for good measure. “Music’s been a big part of my life, even though I never wanted to pursue it professionally,” she says. “It gave me joy, and it gave me balance.”

Secondary School brought a shift. While music remained important, something else began to spark her interest: science. “Biology just clicked,” she recalls, “By Year 8, I knew I wanted to go into medicine.” But it wasn’t just classroom curiosity that sealed her path, it was experience. By the time Seiya was in Year 10, she was shadowing doctors across a range of hospitals, both public and private and even palliative care centres.

One memory stands out. “I observed an awake craniotomy,” she says, eyes wide with the thrill of recalling it, “The patient was awake while the neurosurgeon operated on their brain. I was helping flash cue cards to check their language responses. It was surreal. I was in scrubs, in the OR, and I just thought, this is what I want to do.”

She’s quick to note that these weren’t one-off experiences. Seiya volunteered full-time during school holidays at various hospitals, helping take vitals, directing patients, pushing wheelchairs and delivering lab results. “I loved every minute of it,” she says, “The interactions, the responsibility, the chance to make someone feel cared for, it was real.”

For IB, Seiya took Biology, Chemistry and Math AA at Higher Level, and balanced them with Standard Level Thai, English and Economics. Her Internal Assessment for Biology was a true labor of love, or perhaps fascination. “I studied the elasticity of aorta tissue under different pH and temperature conditions,” she says, beaming. “Basically, I dissected pig hearts for two weeks straight. Everyone thought I was nuts. But I loved it!”

Beyond academics, Seiya found meaning in community. She co-founded two service clubs: one supporting battered women through awareness campaigns and donations, and another for visually impaired students – For the Blind. “That one means a lot to me,” she says, speaking of the club she launched after volunteering at a school for the blind. “We created 3D learning models, like the life cycle of a spider or octopus, and included Braille and QR codes with audio descriptions. We do monthly visits now. It’s grown so much, and it really builds empathy, for our members and for me.”

Another passion? World Scholar’s Cup. “It started as a fun academic competition,” Seiya says, “but it became part of my identity.” She’s competed at the Global Rounds, coached younger students, and now serves as a judge. “I love mentoring. Seeing others grow and succeed is just as fulfilling as competing myself.”

Looking ahead, Seiya has set her sights on Trinity College Dublin, one of Ireland’s most prestigious universities. She also received offers from top Thai programs, including the competitive joint medical course between Nottingham and Srinakharinwirot University, but ultimately felt a strong connection to Trinity. “It was the right fit,” she says. “I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

Reflecting on her time at Patana, Seiya says what she’ll miss most is the people. “The friends, the teachers, the whole community. They’ve seen me grow from a shy kid in Year 2 to someone ready to face the world.”

As for the future? “I don’t know what specialty I’ll choose yet,” she says. “But I know I want to keep learning, keep helping and keep connecting with people. Medicine lets me do all of that.”

And with the heart and brains, she’s already shown, there’s no doubt Seiya will.