Aimee’s Pathway: A Journey Toward Dentistry

When Aimee entered Bangkok Patana in Year 12, she expected the final stretch of Secondary School to unfold quietly – two years of coursework, familiar routines and preparation for university. She could not have predicted was just how deeply those two years would reshape her identity, expand her confidence and crystallise a future she had never previously imagined.

“I was surprised by how much it affected me,” she says, “Even though I came in quite late, I changed so much while being here.”

Bangkok Patana’s scale, diversity, and student‑centred ethos offered her something entirely new. She said the learning environment felt more holistic than she had known before, hands‑on, collaborative and intentionally designed to prepare students for more than examinations. “It’s not just academics here,” she explains, “The curriculum teaches you real skills like public speaking, teamwork and how to face challenges. Those things might even be more important than the academic side.”

Aimee still remembers the welcome she received from both peers and teachers, which dissolved her anxieties of starting afresh almost immediately. “I never felt like an outsider,” she says, “I found friends who gave me a new perspective on what friendship can be, people who support each other, people I know will stay in my life even after graduation.”

Aimee had always been certain she would pursue science. STEM felt familiar, logical and entirely aligned with her strengths. Yet it was during her time at Patana that this interest evolved into a vocation. The school’s service culture, particularly through We Hear You and Smile Club (Operation Smile), introduced her to a version of healthcare rooted in empathy, responsibility and advocacy. These experiences broadened her understanding of what it means to serve others and triggered a curiosity about medical careers she had never taken seriously before.

At first, she explored medicine. But shadowing experiences at Somdech Phra Pinklao Hospital, along with volunteer work at Ramathibodi Hospital, opened an unexpected door. Dentistry, which she had assumed was purely clinical, revealed itself to be a delicate intersection of precision, creativity and human connection. “I realised dentistry is a combination of art and science,” she says. “I never knew that before. When I discovered that, it felt like everything came together, like I had found something that fits who I am.”

Her IB choices, Biology, Chemistry and Math AA at Higher Level, alongside Thai, English and Economics strengthened the scientific foundation she wanted. But it was the artistic and athletic dimensions of her life that completed the picture.

Aimee has been a figure skater since she was seven and while her training eased during the IB years, skating remains one of the most defining influences in her life. Over the last few years, she began taking the sport more seriously, participating in competitions such as Skate Bangkok, Skate Asia and most notably the 2024 Thailand National Championships. The experience was transformative. “There was one jump I needed for the competition and I just couldn’t get it,” she recalls. “I finally landed it two days before. That feeling – after working so hard – was incredible.”

Skating taught her resilience, “You learn that progress isn’t linear,” she says. “There are ups and downs, and that’s okay. That mindset helped me mature a lot.”

Music has been her other lifelong companion. A pianist since the age of six, she finds both comfort and discipline in the instrument. Piano sharpened her fine motor skills, something she realised mattered when she completed a hand‑skills assessment during her dental school interview. But more importantly, it gave her balance. “It’s where I express myself,” she says. “It lets me explore the creative side of me outside science and academics.”

Her choice to pursue dentistry at Mahidol University centres on a deep sense of belonging and purpose. Thailand is home – where she was born, raised and deeply rooted – and serving Thai communities feels natural. Mahidol’s emphasis on innovation and research resonated strongly with her, as did the warmth of its students. “When I talked to the seniors, I just felt like I fit in,” she says. “It felt natural, like their community could be mine.”

Looking back, Aimee is grateful she stepped into the unknown in Year 12. Bangkok Patana gave her the space to try, to fail, to adapt and ultimately to discover a future that feels authentically hers.

“I never expected to change this much,” she says. “But coming here gave me the courage to explore new things. And that’s how I found dentistry. That’s how I found myself.”

Congratulations, Aimee! We look forward to seeing you captivate your audience or your patients – whether you’re dazzling on the ice or tackling a root canal. Either way, you’re sure to drill it!