Waan-Yen’s Pathway: Composing a Future in Medicine, Management and Meaning

Before she ever set foot in a lecture hall, Waan-Yen already had a vision for her future—one that braids together science, service, and systems thinking. Now set to pursue a dual degree in Medicine (MD) and a Master’s in Management (MM) at Mahidol University, she represents a new generation of students reshaping what it means to enter healthcare. “I feel like those two together will help shape my future goal,” she says thoughtfully, “I want to help patients and also improve the systems around them.”

That ambition grew not from a single defining moment, but from a lifelong curiosity. “Ever since I was young, I was always asking, how does this work? Why does this happen?” she recalls. Science became not just a subject, but a language through which she could understand the world. Over time, that curiosity evolved into purpose. “With medicine, there’s also a service element. I just fell in love with it.”

Waan-Yen’s story doesn’t start in a hospital, it begins with a move.

“I’ve been at Bangkok Patana for 10 years, since Year 4,” she says. Arriving from a smaller primary school, her first impressions were a mix of awe and uncertainty. “When I first came, it felt really big—really overwhelming,” she admits, “But the support system here was very strong. I was able to fit in normally.”

What followed was a Primary School experience defined by exploration. “I remember Patana being very focused on learning by doing,” she says. Learning modules like Business Matters weren’t just lessons, they were lived experiences. “I felt really engaged. That’s how I remember my Primary School life—it was fun.”

It was also where she first dared to step outside her comfort zone. In Year 4, she signed up for Thai music as an extra-curricular activity. “At first, I was really scared. I thought it would be difficult,” she laughs, “But I wanted to try something new.” After experimenting with instruments like the ranat and the khim—a traditional hammered dulcimer—she found her rhythm. “I really enjoyed playing it, so I continued in both Primary and Secondary.”

That instinct, to try, to test, to not be confined by one identity, would define her years ahead.

“I’m not really someone who’s good at just one hobby,” she admits. “I like to try a lot of things.” From badminton to rock climbing, guitar playing to singing, Waan-Yen embraced variety over perfection. It wasn’t about mastery, it was about momentum.

That same philosophy carried into her academic journey. For IGCSE, she took on Triple Sciences alongside creative and applied subjects like Photography, Art and Design, Design Technology and Business. In the IB, she doubled down on the Sciences: HL Biology and Chemistry, while complementing them with Mathematics AA and Business at SL. “Managing two HL Sciences was really difficult,” she says candidly, “But they’re the foundation for medicine.”

Balancing that workload with her wide-ranging interests wasn’t always easy. “During IGCSE and IB, it was tough trying to manage hobbies outside school and academic responsibilities.” Yet, in that tension, she found clarity.

Her growing interest in medicine became grounded through practical exposure. Through job shadowing at Chulalongkorn Hospital and Pinklao Hospital, she moved beyond theory into lived experience. “I went around many departments, and even the operating room,” she shares. But what struck her most wasn’t just the clinical side. “Being a doctor isn’t just about helping one patient. If you can change the system from the top down, you can affect many.”

It’s a perspective that sets her apart. Waan-Yen doesn’t just want to treat illness, she wants to transform the experience of care. “A lot of patients feel that hospitals are stressful or unwelcoming. I want to change that, to make the system smoother, more efficient, more human, ” she reflects.

This sense of purpose extended into her leadership at school. As President of the Operation Smile Club, she helped raise awareness and funds for cleft lip and palate surgeries. “I was drawn to it because I’m interested in surgery and also because it helps people in such a direct way,” she says.

Amidst the ambition and achievement, it is the community she holds closest. “I’m going to miss how warm the school community is,” she says, “I’m not sure if university will feel the same.”

When asked about her most cherished memory, she doesn’t hesitate. “Residentials,” she smiles, “It was really fun bonding with my whole year group. I’ll miss that and my friends.”

In many ways, Waan-Yen’s journey is still unfolding. But already, it carries a distinctive melody—one composed of curiosity, courage, and compassion. Whether she is playing the khim, leading a club, or stepping into a hospital ward, she moves with intention.

“I want to improve the system,” she says simply.