Bangkok--5 Nov--Ogilvy (Thailand)
Dr. Sutapa Amornvivat, Chief Executive Officer, SCB Abacus Co., Ltd. (SCB Abacus) and a former representative of Thai students who have participated in the International Academic Olympiad joined an "Olympic Talk" at the "3 Decades of Princess's Kindness for the International Academic Olympiad" event. The event invited 5 former representatives in the International Academic Olympiad who have become highly successful and recognized in multiple occupations to come and share their experiences of joining this student academic competition to prepare and inspire Thai students for their upcoming olympiad in 8 subjects.
Dr. Sutapa Amornvivat, Chief Executive Officer of SCB Abacus Co., Ltd and a former representative of Thai students who have participated in the 23rd International Chemistry Olympiad (ICho), shared her experience on the subject of "Winning isn't Everything". She said "In this world, only winners will be remembered. Many people probably know that Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world. But who actually knows about K2, which is the 2nd highest mountain in the world with its height only 200 meters less than the peak of Everest."
"Once I had the opportunity to be selected as one of a Asia 21 Young Leader Fellow from the Asia Society, who would be selected from prominent leaders around the world. We gathered in the United States and one of the key ideas I have received from that gathering was a question from one of the top executives from a top company that it's very difficult to get in. He would use this question when he recruited people to work for him. That question was "have you ever been a no.1 or on a top spot at anything in your life?". It was a reflection of how people would only remember about their victory but, in fact, the one who came 2nd would remember it clearer because after they faced their mistakes, they would come back and review their lesson, consider their weakness and develop themselves," added Dr.Sutapa.
"My first disappointment occurred at the age of 16 while attending an International Academic Olympiad. During the practice exam, I had a problem with using unfamiliar equipment, causing me to waste some time to find the way to use it. The test result that day was not satisfactory for me. After that incident, I learnt my lesson that "consciousness" is important. After that day, there were many other situations where I had to take an exam, join a competition or start a new job. Consciousness has always been something that helped me make it through. When I interview people to work with me, I would not look for the no.1 person, but I always ask "what is your failure and how do you fix it?". Don't be afraid to lose. Try to fight and learn from it. That's what I want you all to keep in mind," added Dr.Sutapa.
The "3 Decades of Princess's Kindness for the International Academic Olympiad" activity was organized recently by the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) and the Foundation for the Promotion of Academic Olympiad, the Development of Science Education Standards in the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Narathiwatratchanakharin (SWU), and the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), at the BITEC Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok to honor Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Narathiwatratchanakharin and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as both of them have given their support to the project. On the day of the event, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has officially presided over the event.
In addition to the "Olympic Talk", the event had many other interesting activities including the Olympic Think Tank activity; an imitated Olympic classroom in 8 subjects; an academic seminar about the myth of education and learning tips; the final round of Mini Science & Math Olympiad competition; an academic talk on modern Thai students with talent, goodness and happiness; university student activity; an activity from the school and university centers to expand the Academic Olympiad program as well as many exhibitions and other academic activities.