Jakrit Sangkhamanee, Rattana Lao, Apirat Kongchanakul and Trapal Singh Narula recently represented Thailand at the Hitachi Young Initiatives Leader forum in Malaysia. The forum brought young leaders from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Japan together to discuss and share their perspectives on education, the environment and economics.

Set a goal and go for it

“First, you must be sure of yourself and what you want,” says Jakrit Sangkhamanee, a master’s degree candidate studying sustainable development at Chiang Mai University. “Once you find a subject that you’re are truly interested in, it will open your mind and make you focus on activities related to it.”

When Jakrit, 26, realised he wanted to focus on environmental issues, he quickly got involved in local and international projects.

“To increase your chances of getting selected by a forum committee, you need to know more than the other candidates, Jakrit says. “So first and foremost, understand what you really want to do and follow that path.”

Never feel that it’s too late to change your goals. Jakrit realised that he was passionate about the environment not government shortly before he graduated in a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Extracurricular activities are essential

At the forum, representatives work with people from numerous nations and backgrounds. So, an outgoing personality and effective communication skills are vital.

Ratana Lao, a third-year student in the British and American Studies Programme at Thammasat University, says engaging in extracurricular activities helps build those skills. She suggests joining a club, doing social work or attending a camp during vacation.

These build group-communication skills, teach you to cope with different types of people and to express yourself tactfully so not to hurt other people’s feelings.

Ratana, 21, says it’s best to build these skills before applying to a forum.

“Before you work with foreigners, you must learn to work with Thais,” she says. “How can you cope with outsiders without a proper understanding of our own people?”

Debating helps

One recommended extracurricular activity is debate.

Because when you attend an international forum, you’re expected to explore a variety of topics to their fullest. And the medium of communication is English.

Debating requires careful listening to understand your opponent’s views before formulating your rebuttal.

“People from different parts of the world are brought up in different ways,” says Apirat Kongchanakul, a third-year student in computer science at Mahidol University International College. “You must understand their thoughts before agreeing or disagreeing with them.”

Apirat, 18, adds that debate makes you see issues from several angles, so you consider many factors before drawing conclusions. Debate makes you a good listener, too.

Read an English-language newspaper every day

How can you discuss international issues if you don’t know what’s happening in the world? Reading newspapers, especially those written in English, help you improve your language skills and broaden your perspective.

“The world has become small because of globalisation,” says Trapal Singh Narula, 22, a fourth-year student in business administration at Mahidol University International College. “If you only know about what’s happening at home, you won’t sound credible at an international forum. Being informed makes a difference.”

Watchara Saengsrisin

The Nation

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Scholaships: Fullbright Awards

Thai scholars holding a doctorate and having at least a decade of experience can apply for Fulbright Awards in the “Thai Visiting Scholar Programme” category.

The award, sponsored by the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation, will be presented to three Thai scholars for the 2006 academic year. Recipients can conduct research, work on academic projects, or lecture in the US for three to six months.

Research scholars should focus on Thai-US relationships. Lectures should deal with aspects of Thai society, modern Thai art, Thai-US relations or Thailand’s role in regional affairs.

The fellowship covers round-trip air fare, monthly stipends, a professional allowance, a settling-in allowance and health insurance.

Download the application from www.fulbrightthai.org. Submit the application, proposals, academic credentials and letters of invitation from US institutions before September 9 to the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation, Third Floor, Thai Wah Tower 1, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120.

For more information, call (02) 285 0581-2 or visit

www.fulbrightthai.org.

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2minute facts

What’s in a name?

The following are real names of real places:

Bastard, Norway

Climax, Colorado, USA

Hold With Hope, Greenland

Intercourse, Pennsylvania, USA

Little Dix Village, West Indies

Middle Intercourse Island, Australia

Pis Pis River, Nicaragua

Sexmoan, Luzon, Philippines

Source: www.crazynews.net

Where were the first spectacles worn?

Europeans probably began wearing spectacles in the 13th century. Marco Polo, the Italian trader and traveller, reported that he had seen people wearing them in China in 1275. The demand for reading glasses increased in the late 15th century, after printed books became widely available.

In the late 16th century, people began wearing spectacles for clearer distance vision. In 1784, Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals, which split lenses into two parts to allow both distant and close-up vision.

Source: “Tell Me Where?”,

Chancellor Press