submissions - The Union International

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

Kaleidoscope

By Irena Rawanchaikul
Harrow International School
Grade 12, Thai

Submission Rationale: My submission addresses my formative childhood experiences moving around numerous countries, which has proven critical in shaping my current standing as a third culture kid. A particularly important instance of when I confronted an unfamiliar identity was when I came back to Thailand as an older child, and how that reckoning, coupled alongside my earlier experience of varying cultures and histories, moulded me into a more open-minded global citizen who would like to go into public office; to use my insights to help make the world a better place. My perspective on social and cultural identity has also changed – whereas before, in line with the prevailing line of thought that you can ever only be from one country or have one identity, now I realise that our identity is not limited. In fact, we could be considered to be kaleidoscopes, of memories, experiences, and identities, as per my title.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Chatcha’s Youth Identity Animation

By Chatcha Sriwanwit
St. Andrews International School
Grade 8, Thai

Submission Rationale: My animation describes my life as a third-culture kid in Singapore, how it had affected my life when I came back to Thailand, and how my experiences have shaped my present identity.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

It’s ok to be a self liquid

โดย รมณณัฏฐ์ สัจจะภัทรกุล ไทย โรงเรียนสวนกุหลาบวิทยาลัย รังสิต

Submission Rationale: เหตุผลก็คือ โดยส่วนตัวเป็นคนที่ไม่รู้ว่าตัวเองเป็นแบบไหน ไม่สามารถระบุได้อย่างชัดเจน ทำให้รู้สึกว่าเป็นคนที่ไม่มีเอกลักษณ์ บางครั้งก็ไม่สามารตัดสินใจอะไรได้ แต่ก็พบว่ามีอีกหลายคนที่ยังหาตัวของตัวเองไม่เจอ จึงตั้งใจทำเนื้อหาที่เป็นแรงบันดาลใจให้กับคนอื่นๆให้ลองค้นหาต่อไป โดยเล่าจากเรื่องราวของตัวเอง และมีประเด็นหลัก คือการที่ ไม่สามารถระบุตัวตนของตัวเองได้นั้นไม่เป็นไร คนเราเปลี่ยนแปลงได้ตลอดเวลา เหมือนกับสายน้ำที่ไม่ไหลย้อนคืน แต่สักวันเราก็จะเติบโตขึ้นและรู้เองว่า ตัวตนของตัวเองคืออะไร

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Growing your branch of identity

by Sarinrat (Pam)
Sajjachaiyanont Thailand
Shrewsbury International School
Gr7, Thai

Submission Rationale: I believe identity is not who you are, but rather the things that make up who you are (branch-like). It also could be branched out into even smaller things such as influence. In this essay, I described my identity as something made up of smaller traits and how these traits are formed (e.g. influence from people or family). This was also one of the many times I explored an unfamiliar identity. Music has always been a big part of my life, whether it’s listening or making my own music. I like to explore new genres of music. This started in my very own home, where I was encouraged to listen to the music that my family members like. I also have a big heart for food. It’s always food that bribes me. I showed examples of my favourite foods and how I was influenced to try them. I also showed how it gave me a new perspective on how identity is formed. Everything that has been mentioned is something that I am truly passionate about and really like. I decided to include my experiences in this essay (as influence) as I want it personal and close to my heart.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

Thaiwanese

By Yeong yuh Lin
Harrow International School
Gr12, Taiwanese

Submission Rationale: Growing up Taiwanese in Thailand has cultivated my multicultural persona, where contrasting elements of the two cultures seem to be in a perpetual fight to find dominance. Language, in particular, I realized is the most prominent factor of having a Third Culture identity. Throughout my journey of self-discovery, there is a definitive need to adapt to the linguistic of Thai and Mandarin. Whether it is to communicate with my relatives in Taiwan or just peers at the Thai School I used to attend, I find myself switching between languages which consequently meant my etiquette and ‘ identity ‘ would change. However, unlike Thai, Mandarin is only spoken at home. Hence, my Mandarin conversations were intertwined with Thai and English. Thus, the core inspiration behind this piece is the duality of Taiwan and Thailand on my identity. My Thai identity is portrayed to be more overpowering to show a stronger connection with the culture. Meanwhile, my Taiwanese identity holds a gentler demeanor, indicating the fading familiarity with the language and Taiwanese culture.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Lost for a Home

By Jennifer Greenbank
Bangkok Patana International School
Gr8, Thai

Submission Rationale: As a mixed cultured kid, I always felt like I never really had one place I could call home, always feeling as though I never belonged anywhere. Although my ethnicity and heritage said otherwise, I could still never really give just one answer to where I was actually from. Yes I was lucky enough to have more than one home, but that didn’t mean I felt like I really belonged in either one of them. Even though I had lived in Thailand my whole life, there were times where I was just seen as a tourist who was visiting there, never really fitting in. It was very draining and disheartening because I felt like I could never be fully accepted for being a mixed cultured kid. It wasn’t my fault yet I was being punished for something simply out of my control.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

Maybees don’t fly in june

By Supichayankorn Saengkaew
สาธิตจุฬา ฝ่ายมัธยม
Gr12, ไทย

Submission Rationale: แดนดิไลออนมีความหมายว่าดอกไม้แห่งความสุข ความร่าเริงและความหวัง มีคนถามเรามาตลอดว่าอะไรคือตัวตนของเรา อยู่ๆภาพดอกไม้นี้ปรากฏขึ้นมาดื้อๆเลย ที่เลือกชื่อ maybees don’t fly in june เพราะว่าเราเกิดเดือนมิถุนาและสำนวนนี้แปลกลายๆประมาณว่าลังเล ซึ่งเราเป็นคนที่ขี้ลังเลมากๆแต่น่าแปลกที่ไม่ลังเลจะเลือกชื่อนี้เลย เราแทนดอกแดนดิไลออนเป็นตัวตนต่างๆที่เราก็เสียมันไปในระหว่างทางชีวิต แทนวาฬคือความสุข แทนมหาสมุทรเป็นความอ้างว้าง แต่อย่างไรก็ดี เรื่องราวต่างๆในชีวิตเราทำให้เราเริ่มที่จะรักษาตัวตนของตัวเองและของคนอื่นๆไปด้วยพร้อมๆกัน

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

An Entangled Japan

By Rie Aiyama
Bangkok Patana International School
Gr10, Japanese

Submission Rationale:As a third-culture Japanese girl growing up in Thailand, I have always had a conflicted sense of identity. Am I truly Japanese? My blood and heritage tells me so; but my values and experiences point otherwise. Even at a young age, I struggled to assimilate into full-Japanese communities, due to language barriers and contrasting values that set me apart from peers. Now visiting Japan as a teenager, I view myself as a tourist, rather than someone returning ‘home’. This artwork represents my perception of Japan – an entangled mess of traditions, themes and symbols, built upon my own experiences as a third-culture kid. Scattered across are images of iconic Japanese subjects, such as the Koi fish, Mt. Fuji, and Sakura Blossoms. I realized later on that it showcases my ‘foreigners eye’; my tendency to focus on surface-level landmarks rather than personal places. Altogether, I juxtaposed the traditional and modern aspects of the culture, hoping to paint a scene where both coexisted in harmony. While this piece is an interpretation, it is also an appreciation. It captures something I truly believe is beautiful – Japan’s diverse culture, and my unique place in it all.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

“You’re a misfit.”

By Pakwan Nisapakulthorn (Pim)
Shrewsbury International School
Gr10, Thai

Submission Rationale:My parents are Thai but my grandparents are Chinese and I was raised in an english-speaking environment. Sometimes it just seems unnatural, well… most of the time actually. As I grew up, I started realising the differences between myself, a third-culture kid, and my friends. I followed the trend of dying my hair and was celebrating three New Years annually, each of which I wore completely different outfits. None felt like it was the right fit. This sense of alienation is presented in this illustration-based mixed media artwork. Despite the monster arm’s seeming comical and lighthearted, it represents my childhood fear of not being understood and isolated as a result of being different. I chose to put myself in the spotlight to put emphasis and depth to the whole piece. However, the intended colour pink acts as a double edged sword as it also has negative connotations of my lack of self-worth. Now that time has passed, I gradually stepped out of this fear and began embracing my multicultural self. And I hope that other kids like me would too. Through this capture of my childhood fear I want to show the viewers that feeling “different” is a universal experience and that breaking uniformity is never to be ashamed of. Breaking uniformity is what makes you special so take your spotlight and shine!

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

Your Own Perfect Beauty (Original Song)

By Warangkana Prasom
(ด.ญ.วรางคณา ประสม) Satriwithaya (สตรีวิทยา)
Gr9, Thai

Submission Rationale:My submission “Your own perfect beauty” is related to the theme because I want to be a representative as a tan skin girl who has faced many obstacles that people around think of me. I grew up with my tan skin since I was born. And I didn’t think it would be a problem until my teacher, my friends and people that I am familiar with started laughing and commenting using those toxic creative words and sentences. Even though maybe my teacher just adored me, she didn’t know that my classmates think of that action as a role model to follow. They think it looks cool to play with somebody different. As they grow up, they might think that it is normal because he/she acts the same as the teacher did. So, I want to stand with my tan skin, teenagers and adults that have faced these problems and I just want to cheer them up to be confident of their own differences.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

ประสบการณ์หล่อหลอมเป็นตัวตน

By ต้นกล้า ศรีนิศากร
โรงเรียนกาญจนาภิเษกวิทยาลัย นครปฐม
Gr11, Thai

Submission Rationale: ประสบการณ์เป็นดั่งบทเพลง มีการเปลี่ยนแปลงทำนอง หนัก เบา ทุ้ม ต่ำ เป็นสิ่งที่เราต้องเจอ ตัวตนของเรานั้นเริ่มต้นแทบทุกคนล้วนมาจากคำสั่งสอนของพ่อแม่ คำสั่งสอนสร้างเสริมให้เราเป็นตัวตน เมื่อเข้าสู่วัยรุ่น อาจารย์และเพื่อนคือปัจจัยหลักที่มีผลต่อตัวตนเรา แรงลมเปรียบดั่งประสบการณ์ ลมแรงสามารถเปลี่ยนตัวเราได้ แล้วแต่ตัวเราจะเปลี่ยน สีคือมุมมองต่างๆมีเศร้า โกธร ดีใจ ปะปนเมื่อนำทุกอย่างมาผสม ก็จะเกิดมุมมองใหม่ต่อกำแพงนั้นคือสังคม ประสบการณ์คือสิ่งมีค่า มีผลต่อความคิดและมุมมองของเรา

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

Class Unknown

By Panawee Sakulwannadee
Ruamrudee International School
Gr11, Thai

Submission Rationale:This piece is based upon a real life experience I had during a Thai class. I don’t remember anything else from that class. Not the date, not what happened for the rest of the class, just that one small comment made by a classmate who probably thought I would forget about it, like everyone else. Hence the title “Class Unknown”. It’s an identity struggle, trying to be proud of my identity as an individual, based on the things I’ve done, but my cultural heritage, that presumed identity, always seems to loom over my head, a reminder of my biggest weakness. Despite having lived in Thailand for 16-17 years, I’ve lived a very American life. So much so that other parents question my own, saying “How can you raise a child with such little decorum?”. Or where I see a classmate talking very rudely and informally to my teacher and I look like the bad guy when I speak up about it. Because that behavior’s supposed to be normal. It’s this cognitive dissonance, a pit of anxiety, where I simultaneously know who I am, and yet…I allow myself to be so easily shaped and crafted by others.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

VIBRANT

By Lauren L. Saavedra
Immaculate Conception
Archdiocesan School
– Tetuan Gr10, Filipino

Submission Rationale:This illustration represents how I bloomed and rocketed into the vibrant and bright side of life. The colors of this illustration are the colors of the rainbow, each color represents uniqueness and how together, form harmony. The jetpack emits a colorful vibe to the illustration. It is also a way of telling that I can be an impact to other people, especially the youth, and those who are struggling.

There was a time in my life where I was lost. I did not realize that I was hiding in a closet for far too long. I was slowly drowning in my own thoughts, nowhere to reach, no one to seek for help. I was alone, in a dark place. Music was my aid, but somehow I needed to look for light, color: hope. I was scared. But then I was not. Because I had one thing in keeping me awake and truly alive; my love for painting. I was able to converse freely through my drawings and illustrations. And till now, I have gathered the courage to be free. To be able to understand myself, and to finally find my true identity.

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

ตัวตนที่ฉันตามหา

By วรวิช เจตมงคลนวัช
เตรียมอุดมศึกษา
Gr12, ไทย

Submission Rationale: ในประเทศที่ผู้คนถูกปิดกั้นสิทธิของตัวเอง หลายคนไม่สามารถแม้แต่จะพูดความจริงออกมาได้ ตัวตนของเราเริ่มหายไป เราจึงต้องส่งเสียงของเราออกมา ถึงแม้ว่ามันจะดูเป็นไปได้ยากที่จะทำให้เกิดความเปลี่ยนแปลง แต่เราก็เชื่อว่าถ้าทุกเสียงเห็นพ้องต้องกัน และกล้าส่งเสียงนั้นออกมา โลกใบนี้จะน่าอยู่ขึ้นสำหรับเราทุกคน เราขอเป็นหนึ่งเสียงที่เรียกร้องให้เกิดการเปลี่ยนแปลงในสังคม และเพื่อให้ผู้คนได้ตระหนักรู้ถึงความสำคัญของเสียงของพวกเขา

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Inside of K’eyush

By Yunru (Maggie) Pu
Bangkok Patana International School
Gr6, Chinese

Submission Rationale: The story inside of K’eyush is himself in his own world with his clones, the huskies in his body is everything in the present, K’eyush is thinking about and what he wants to do next, there is far to many choices! I was inspired by Dav Pilkey’s dog man comic characters, so I created my characters like him. The background I was inspired of me under a tree in Switzerland, it had multi-coloured flowers. And I was eating candy!

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Pasta Chips with a Pesto Cream Cheese Dip

By Kongngern (KC) Charnvises
Ruamrudee International School
Gr6, Thai

Submission Rationale: The reason why I chose pasta chips is because it empowers how you think of the food normally, since the whole idea of pasta chips is going to come in full circle. When I made pasta chips it empowers me because I get to understand the whole idea of turning something good to something better and I really think the idea of empowering in this dish means trying and trying and trying again to get the recipe right that empowers me because I think that’s the true meaning of cooking and that is what makes me happy.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Blossoms

By Jia Lee
Ruamrudee International School
Gr8, South Korea

Submission Rationale: I chose to write a story about a time when we dressed up in traditional clothing from different countries for an event at school. I chose to write this story because it was when I got to explore many different cultures, and it helped me to see how different and similar people were. It also made me want to be more confident, so this experience changed my perspective and aspirations.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Deja Vu (Song Cover)

By พัชรนันท์ จิระชัยประสิทธิ (Iris Patcha)
Anglo Singapore International School
Gr6, Thai

Submission Rationale: หนูชอบร้องเพลงและเล่นคีย์บอร์ดไปพร้อมๆกันค่ะเพราะได้ฝึกทักษะทางดนตรี เพลงนี้หนูชื่นชอบเสียงที่มีเอกลักษณ์ของศิลปินมากๆค่ะ แล้วหนูก็ชอบทำนองของเพลงด้วยค่ะ หนูเลยอยากลองฝึกร้องและบันทึกเสียงเองดูค่ะ หนูเป็นคนชอบตัดต่อคลิปวีดีโอด้วยค่ะเลยลองทำฉากหลังเองดูค่ะเพื่อเพิ่มสีสันในการทำเพลงค่ะ ขอให้ทุกคนมีความสุขกับเพลงที่หนูทำเองทุกอย่างด้วยนะคะ 🙂

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Asian American Life & Experience

By Wenhan (Han) Ding
Ruamrudee International School
Gr8, Thai-American

Submission Rationale: This submission relates to the theme of Raising Your Voice as it explains my life as an Asian American living in multiple states (Tennessee, New York, and Florida) and attending different school settings, both public and private. I also share my friends and family’s experience in America, as well as my own. With that, I tell readers that even though there is violence, there is always equality and kindness. I tell them to raise THEIR voice(s) if there is a problem needing advocating. More so, it has the first verse of one of my songs’ lyrics and what they mean. The song, called Unity Through Equality (still drafting), is about how we, as a community, feel the attacks of racism and how we as a global society can unite and extinguish the demons and hate for a better future with peace and equality.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY

Our Identity

By Pakawat Podetch (Messi)
Ruamrudee International School
Gr6, Thai

Submission Rationale: In the video attached I made a speech explaining “Our Identity”, explaining about my own personal identity, and everyone else’s identity which relates to the topic. I also talk at the end about global citizens and about choice of life.