The Importance of Building your Story
by Kim Ekstrom and Andrew Haughton, Careers and Universities Counsellors
Bangkok Patana School is a place for self-discovery, where students can explore their interests through academic, extracurricular and super curricular activities. As our students navigate Secondary, they’re not just attending lessons; they are building their unique story, and this is more than just a list of achievements; it encompasses the experiences, challenges and personal growth that accompanies each activity.
Telling Your Story to Universities
In Year 13, students are expected to articulate their story through college essays, personal statements, letters of motivation, interviews and portfolios.
When applying to UK universities and some European and Asian institutions, students explain why they have chosen and are excited to apply for a specific university course. This enthusiasm can be showcased through subject exploration and activities that happen beyond what is learnt in school:
- Read books about your subject, specialist magazines and journals
- Browse websites related to your subject
- Visit museums, exhibitions and galleries
- Listen to podcasts, watch films and documentaries
- Attend seminars and lectures, online or in person
- Volunteer, or gain work experience that’s relevant to your course
- Take part in academic competitions or projects
In the United States, the college application process goes beyond academic interest and ability. They are not only interested in what subjects spark a student’s curiosity but also in the values and characteristics that define them. They want to understand the impact the student has had on their school and wider community. This impact becomes a crucial element of this story, weaving together academic interests with personal values and community engagement.
Creating Stories Beyond the Classroom
Consider a student passionate about environmental science. Their story could involve participation in a local conservation project, conducting independent research on local ecosystems, or even supporting a schoolwide recycling programme. These experiences demonstrate active engagement, initiative, and time management skills.
For students interested in Sport Science, their story may involve organising a charity tennis competition, volunteering as a golf coach, shadowing a physiotherapist, or writing their 4000-word independently researched Extended Essay on a sport related topic.
Strategies for Building Your Story
Explore diverse interests: Patana is the perfect place to try new things. Participate in one of the many community engagement clubs, try out a new sport, learn a musical instrument, write articles for Scientia Magazine, or become a member of the Politics, Philosophy, Law and Economics ECA discussion group. Each experience contributes to the richness of your story.
Document your journey: Keep a record of your ECAs, achievements, and personal reflections, as these will serve as a valuable resource when the time comes to start writing your university essays.
Reflect on impact: When engaging in activities, it is important to consider its impact on yourself and others. How have these experiences shaped your values skills and perspectives? In what ways have you had a positive impact on our school environment and the lives of others? Reflecting on impact will add depth and authenticity to your story.
Examples of Grad ’25 stories
Amy Brettell will be reading English Literature at the University of Leeds. Her love for literature, creative writing and storytelling led her to participate in Nottingham Trent University’s Creative Writing summer course. Here she developed her analytical and editing skills, as well as push her devotion to the craft of writing. Back at Patana, she was Editor of Core Magazine and her interest in Biology led her to write several science related articles for our Patana News community magazine. Amy took the initiative to carry out a 4-week work experience placement in our primary school where she supported children across a range of subjects, including maths, and literacy.
Benjamin Lu will be studying a Bachelor of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts at the Institut International de l’Image et du Son, France. Ben is an aspiring film director who has been an active member of our performing arts community, playing roles in Bugsy Malone, The Crucible and Grease. He has created several short films such as ‘The Sock Thief’ and ‘Out of the Rain’, through which he developed his script writing, camera operation, and set management as well as his collaborative, organisational and communication skills.
Trinity Jantarach will be studying Health and Human Biology while pursuing a pre-med track at Brown University. In school, she founded the Science Pioneers club, where she and her peers encouraged younger students to explore science beyond the classroom. During her volunteering at the Mercy Centre in Klong Toey, she observed some children suffering from ringworm who used steroid cream to treat it. Inspired by this, she supported graduate students’ research into pathogenic fungi at the Mahidol University’s Faculty of Science and for ten months analysed the antifungal properties of Snake Jasmine, advancing her lab techniques along the way. Trinity is a talented pianist and takes every opportunity to perform both in school events such as Patana Unplugged and at Carnegie Hall.
Shuhan Ye will be playing Division I women’s golf and studying Economics at Sacred Heart University in the US. During her first week in Senior Studies, she tried out for the Girls’ Varsity Golf Team and was voted Captain within 3 weeks. She has since represented Patana in both regional and international competitions, collecting trophies and accolades including ‘Girls individual SEASAC winner’ and ‘Most Valued Player’. Shuhan is proud of achieving the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, which she describes as one of the most challenging and rewarding accomplishments of her life. She was an assistant golf coach for the younger students in our school and active member of Likhit, where she was part of a team that created fun activities for local primary aged Thai pupils that visit from a local orphanage. These experiences taught her valuable leadership and organizational skills and showed the impact a team can make when united for a good cause.Her ability to balance the rigours of the IB curriculum along with her golf and service engagement commitments will serve her well in the future.
