Peeraya’s Pathway — On Friendship, Psychology, and Finding Her Own Voice

At first glance, Peeraya, known to friends as Lookwai—carries herself with the quiet composure of someone who listens more than she speaks. Beneath that steady calm is a young woman shaped by curiosity, conviction and an unexpected journey into both psychology and music.

Lookwai has been at Bangkok Patana since Year 9, “…about four years,” she says, as if still surprised by how quickly Secondary School has passed. When asked what stands out, she doesn’t hesitate. “Friendship‑wise, it’s been really rewarding,” she explains, “I feel like I’ve made real friendships here.”

Academically? That has been a different story. “IB was really hard,” she admits with a sigh that every Year 13 student would instantly recognise. “IGCSE was fine, but IB… it was very stressful. There were so many deadlines, so many research papers, and the content just got harder.” Her subject list is demanding – Economics, Biology and Business at Higher Level, with Math AA, English, Thai SL.

Psychology, however, wasn’t just another subject. It was the beginning of a calling. Even in Year 10, she sensed she had the instincts for it. “I’ve always been the ‘therapist friend,’” she says with a small laugh. That instinct deepened when she became a Wellbeing Ambassador, learning foundational theories and supporting students who needed someone to talk to. From there, her curiosity led her outside the classroom – to hospital internships in psychological and psychiatric departments, and, most significantly, to Little Sprouts, a development center for children with disabilities. She has volunteered there every Saturday for three years. “I’m a facilitator,” she explains, “I’m not licensed, so I help the psychologist and support the kids. Sometimes they let me come up with activities or even lead the class.”

This work with children, alongside community engagement in Secondary School, such as a CAS project involving art sessions with older residents from a care home, helped solidify her direction. When she speaks about psychology, her voice grows lighter, fuller. “I’m sure this is the field I want to pursue,” she says simply.

But her Pathways story has a second chapter, Peeraya is also a signed recording artist.

She debuted last August with “You Still Do,” a song she wrote herself, released under a joint Sony Japan and What The Duck project. The music video has already found an audience – quietly, steadily – just like her.

Music has been part of her life since she was small. She started singing young and even trained for K‑pop—an experience both formative and, at times, disheartening. “I trained hard,” she says. “It didn’t work out though.” She shrugs, but the shrug holds years of resilience. She laughs it off now. “It was for the better,” she says. “Outside of K‑pop, you get more creative freedom. What The Duck focuses on artistry—not being an idol.”

Her path to signing was unexpected. Through her work as a model, she met a recruiter who introduced her to the label. By 16 years of age, she was in conversations with Sony Japan. Now 18, she is beginning to perform live with training support from the label and is preparing new music—“more slow songs… more mature,” she says.

Next year, she will take her next leap – this time to New York. She chose NYU for the energy, the arts and the possibilities. “I love city life,”she says, “And NYU has so much connected to music. Even if I’m not majoring in it, I can still be part of that world.”

As she steps into her next chapter, whether through the lecture halls of NYU or the recording studios of New York – one thing is certain: Lookwai is only just beginning. Congratulations, and we look forward to celebrating every achievement to come, in psychology or in music!