Skill for Leadership

Warinthorn's Progress Journal.pdf

ELSOs Earned from this work

Strategic Leaners: I am able to plan how to learn without wasting time. For this project, we are instructed to do and learn the project by ourselves only providing instruction with no spoon-feeding of steps.
Morally Intelligent: I am able to display hardworking and caring self-disciplined to work on completing my project and reaching the goal of developing myself.

Personal Development Project

Reflection:

The Personal Development Project has been a big journey for me. The last 3 months have been a substantial period of self-learning time for me. This project allowed me to experience interviewing and the preparation for interviewing, the Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan (WOOP) processes for two distinct goals, and the writing of a compelling Statement of Purpose (SOP).

The interview segments, despite receiving a passing score of 5 out of 6, include a critical oversight of my speaking skills. I underestimated the importance of thorough planning and practice, relying instead on perceived language proficiency and closeness with the interviewer. This became present during the interview where I struggled to transition smoothly between points. The feedback hit me with a self-check where I need to be more prepared and do more homework to improve my speaking to incorporate anecdotes into more impactful communication.

The WOOP process for the first goal, achieving a score of over 12C on BMAT. Despite falling with only a score of 10.3B, progress is recognizable from the previous score of 8.3 B. The WOOP for the second goal, improve formal communication skills. The plan involved utilizing online resources and practicing with friends. It helps to demonstrate why personal development is crucial.

In conclusion, the project has truly provided me with the motivation to force myself to self-reflect and work on myself. This is very beneficial for my future. It has equipped me with new skills that I have never managed to think of or even think of needing to do. The project serves as a great anchor to help readjust my ship to redirect my course.

Interview

Preparation

I did not prepare for my interview. I did take a look at the questions and brainstormed rough ideas but never enough to write down solid ideas of what I wanted to say

This is a flaw from the following factors.

My overly confidence in my English speaking skills.
My habits of winging things.
Familiarity with the interviewer

During the interview

During the interview, since I did not prepare thoroughly but with only the questions that were going to be asked in mind, I often found myself stuttering a few times when I couldn’t think of a way to smoothly transition to what I wanted to say or end the point that I was trying to make.

Interviewer’s Feedback

Score: 5/6

Comments:

Well-explained points and passion for your chosen subject were clear.
Consider how you will end your points more fluently
Use more anecdotes to serve as examples of your skills.

Unfortunately, I overlooked the step required to record a video documenting the interview. However, the reflection is reflected in my experience during the interview and the feedback that I received from the interviewer.

Reflection

Reflecting on my interview experience, It is very noticeable that my lack of preparation has significantly impacted my interview performance. Although I did glance at the questions and brainstormed mental ideas, I failed to have those ideas solidified. The ideas would mash up together and linger around in an unorganized bubble of thoughts and points that I want to speak about. This would effectively ruin the way I end my points, being quite crude and not smooth because the ideas were mix-matched and spoken in an unorganized manner. The thing that I wanted to mention last as a finisher became the first thing that came out of my mouth and I had to find a way to turn around what I had just spoken out to the first point that I was trying to make. Consequently, because I was trying to rewire all my speech live during the interview, I started to struggle and stuttered. It became a sore atmosphere every time I attempted to smoothly transition between points and conclude my thoughts.

Despite the positive feedback that I received from the interviewer, I understand the field that I need to really improve in. I need to put more emphasis on my conclusions to make my speech more fluent. In addition, I need to incorporate more anecdotes, which are stories or depictions that will gain attention or help me to understand and have mental images of what I was trying to say. In conclusion, planning is a very important factor for achieving success. It is very evident that despite my ability to get a 5 out of 6 score, it could be massively improved if I sat down to write down my ideas to better prepare myself for the interview. Practicing would help me to not stutter as much and speak more fluently to match my English speaking skills. From this, I have learned that I need to prepare things and not only roughly brainstorm about what I want to say. This will not only help me in future interviews but also be beneficial for presentations, which is one of my personal development goals that I wanted to work on I want to be able to communicate more formally and clearly with proper grammar without stuttering so much and ending with a smooth and clean transition or conclusion.

WOOP

(Wishes, Outcomes, Obstacle, Plan)

1st Goal

Achieving more than 12C on Bmat for medicine university applications

Wish

My wish is to score at least or higher than 12C on my upcoming Bmat. This is an essential admission criterion required by many medical schools that I’ve picked. It will also be a factor in strengthening my portfolio and increasing my chances of being accepted into the university.

Outcome

I will meet the required criteria by achieving a Bmat score of 12C or higher. This will increase my chances of securing a place in the university of choice which will later allow me to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor.

Obstacle

The Bmat covers a wide range of subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Furthermore, there are simply so many different things to remember or understand for each subject. This makes it increasingly difficult to balance the subjects too. I am strong in some subjects but weak in others.
Bmat is a quick test that demands speed and efficiency to answer all questions for marks. The wide range of different subjects makes this extremely difficult.
Anxiety about taking the test is also a factor that affects my efficiency in studying for the test. The overwhelming expectation and the lingering notice that this would be the last Bmat test ever held for medical school admission put so much pressure and raised my anxiety on the issue.

Plan

Planning out and identifying what I need to revise, will help me cross out topics that I already have knowledge on and allow me to focus on other topics that I am weak in.
Practicing on past papers to improve my familiarity with the Bmat questions. This will allow me to become more efficient with each question and in return, I should be able to complete all the questions correctly.
Time management, inserting breaks when I need to calm myself down from the anxiety and regain my concentration to continue studying efficiently.

Progress

I did not record any progress due to my determining focus on studying for the Bmat exam.
Waiting for the score to be announced on Nov 24, 2023
Received the Bmat score of 10.3 B

Aptitude and Skill (Part1): 3.5
Scientific Knowledge and Applications: 3.8
Writing Task: 3.0B

Reflection

Reflecting on my journey to achieving a Bmat score of 12c or higher, the reality hit me hard with 10.3B. Despite my dedicated preparation and a well-detailed plan and procedure for how I could reach the goal, the obstacles presented by Bmat were just too much for me to conquer. One thing that I can take from this experience is recognizing the improvement that did occur. From an initial score of 8.3B from the year before this to the recent score. The plan which incorporated strategic revisions, past paper tests and exams, and time management techniques isn’t enough to push me to the desired goal.

Even though the ultimate goal hasn't been reached yet, the journey is a great learning experience and progress. I’m not giving up on my dream to apply to and study medicine and I will try to seek other opportunities that don’t solely rely on the BMAT score. The resilience that I received upon this fallback will contribute to my future success to tirelessly withstand harder challenges in the future.

2nd Goal

Learning to communicate more formally and clearly with proper grammar

Wish

I wish to improve my ability to communicate more formally and clearly while using proper grammar in spoken communication like giving a presentation in front of the class or speaking to a large crowd of people.

Outcome

I hope to become more effective at communicating my ideas. I also hope to become more formal with my words to make the talk more impressive. With this, I can present myself more professionally and build a better reputation among listeners.

Obstacle

My terrible habit of informal communication that I’ve developed over the past few years. As I was surrounded by my friend’s broken English, I picked them up and adapted myself to become closer. This results in my incapability to stay strictly formal while presenting formally or having a conversation on serious topics.

Plan

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-improve-formal-communications-skills

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/formal-communication
Practicing myself to avoid using contractions and addressing or mentioning people, objects, and places formally.
Taking in new resources like watching English movies or listening and reading formal English excerpts.

Progress

Practiced talking in front of friends and listening to their feedback on my speech.
- - Less Robot-like speech
  - Try to maintain eye contact without glaring at other things while thinking

From the interviewing assessment, I also learned that planning to speak will help beneficially with talking and achieving my goals.
I practiced using larger and more complex words while having conversations with friends.

It allowed me to become more accustomed to utilizing the word in a smooth manner and tone.

Thinking back to what I said helps to reflect on what I should rephrase and say in the future.

Reflection

This SOOP was brought up because recently I kept having trouble speaking formally and structurally and constantly finding myself speaking in crude sentences and phrases that I accidentally adopted from my environment. However, as it was time for me must grow up and speak more formally and seriously, it became troubling for me. I used to be able to fluently and smartly talk in front of the class during presentations but it turned into an issue that I had to rely on my friends to push me back in line. The SOOP provided the motivator for me to sit down and deal with this issue that I keep overlooking.

I searched through online resources like Qura and other websites which provide a list of things I should work on or look at. However, they found that the most effective method is practicing it with people you talk with every day. Practicing to get accustomed to formal speaking helps a lot when suddenly jumping into unknown situations where the people I may be talking to are not someone I know. If I stay persistent with this method, it will greatly impact how I can formally speak properly. The issue was never that I was unable to speak formally and structurally, but it is my own crude talking behavior that prevents me from doing so like I used to be able to.

SOP Writing

(Statement of Purpose)

SOP Planning

Introduction
- My personality
  - Characteristics
    - Leader
  - Education backgrounds
  - Career goals
My passions
- Elaboration on career goals
- My talents, hobbies
- Projects and works that I have accomplished
- My career goals
  - Why I want to become a doctor
  - High interest in robotic bionic limbs
  - Engineering talents
Elaboration on my career goals
- Studying medicine

Draft 1

When I was young, I had a condition called joint hypermobility. It made my joints move more than they should. I would encounter difficulties in attempting to correct my bodily functions to align with normal functions like my friends. I became a frequent visitor to the ground, as my balance would betray me, leaving me susceptible to falls. My friends often view me as weaker, leading me to become an easy target for people to pick on and bully slowly. It’s a common sight to see me crying but I learned to stand up literally and figuratively and it taught me a different kind of strength.
The difficult moments have transformed me into a stronger person, not in the sense of physical power but in the ability to sympathize and empathize when encountering the struggles of others. Even though I’ve outgrown joint hypermobility, the qualities remain within me, and I always readily offer a listening ear and a compassionate heart to those in need. I developed a capacity to connect with the emotional and physical hardships of others. Whenever my friends fell ill, I wanted to be a change agent and I wish I could do more than just comfort them and take care of them. This realization gave me an aspiration in the interest of a career in medicine.
It wasn’t until third grade that my family and I were educated on the condition. Meeting with a specialist who understood the condition was a transformative experience. The room was filled with specialized equipment and prosthetic tools. The doctor diagnosed the severity of my case and provided treatments to improve my balance, including customized shoes with mold-like insoles to shape my flat feet. It was the best thing that could be done to help with my balance as I was growing out of the condition. I was instructed to wear the shoes all day, even indoors, and never take them off.
This made me stand out among my friends at school as the only student wearing shoes in class all the time. Despite the backlash and bullying I received, I took pride in and enjoyed wearing them. I've always been fascinated by the concept of prosthetic and bionic limbs. I would imagine myself wearing this amazing bionic machinery that would reshape my foot, transforming it into something extraordinary. This fascination arose from my childhood.One evening, while watching a documentary about technological advancements with my parents, I was particularly struck by the section about bionic limbs. They showcased a patient who had lost his right arm and a Japanese doctor connecting wires to his skin with conductor pads, similar to plugging in electronic devices. The narrator translated the doctor's words, explaining intricate details about prosthetics. This moment deepened my interest in bionic limbs and inspired me to explore the connection between engineering and medicine.
At the same time, I also have a keen interest in engineering supported by my peers who would similarly agree that I have a talent for innovating new ideas. I’ve also created many engineering projects of my own, ranging from physical creations to crafting intricate 3D models on my computer. These two seemingly contrasting passions, together with my interest in bionic limbs led me to discover more about bioengineering.
When exploring the connection between engineering and medicine, I enjoy the concept of bionic limbs. I am really into their intricacies and I can't get enough of learning more about them. I love reading articles and watching videos on the latest bionic limb advancements. I even took the plunge and conducted a literature review on bionic limbs by going through multiple study articles from a range of three years. I was able to compare and contrast the changes of advancements to the bionic limbs and even uncover new information in this field.
Selecting the right university for my studies posed a significant challenge. My biggest wish is to help others and I strongly believe that a medical career is the most effective way to fulfill my intentions. Even if every job in the world offers the same pay, requires the same effort, and earns the same reputation. I would still choose to work in medicine. The joy from the moment of helping others is the most satisfying, even more than earning a large sum of money.
Finding a program that perfectly aligns with my interests was quite challenging. I don't want to give up on my medical studies to focus solely on engineering. The thing is, I’m not too keen on giving up my passion to study medicine to go all-in on engineering. I wish for a way to have the best of both worlds. Discovering the Ramathibodi medical engineering program filled me with immense excitement. I believe this program would allow me to explore just what intrigued me, the bridging middle ground between engineering and medicine. The 7-year dual program including 6 years of medical study and an extra year dedicated to engineering is precisely what I’ve wanted and I am eagerly looking forward to entering the program.
If I get the opportunity to study in this program, my main excitement lies in connecting and collaborating with fellow enthusiasts who share my passion for both medicine and engineering. My overarching goal is to pursue a medical career and leverage the knowledge and engineering skills I acquire to positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities in our country through advancements in bionic limbs.

Final Draft (Draft 2)

When I was young, I had a condition called joint hypermobility. It made my joints move more than they should. I would encounter difficulties in attempting to correct my bodily functions to align with normal functions like my friends. I became a frequent visitor to the ground, as my balance would betray me, leaving me susceptible to falls. Consequently, this makes me an easy target for bullying. While tears were a common sight, this adversity taught me to stand up, both literally and figuratively, instilling a unique form of strength within me.
The difficult moments have transformed me into a stronger person, not in the sense of physical power but in the ability to sympathize and empathize when encountering the struggles of others. While I've overcome joint hypermobility, its impact lingers, shaping me into someone who readily extends a listening ear and a compassionate heart to those in need. My experiences have honed my capacity to connect deeply with the emotional and physical hardships of others. When my friends got sick, I wanted to help make things better, wishing I could do more than just comfort and take care of them. This realization gave me an aspiration in the interest of a career in medicine.
When my family and I finally learned about my joint hypermobility. Meeting a specialist was transformative, revealing a room filled with specialized equipment. The diagnosis led to treatments, including customized shoes shaping my flat feet and enhancing balance. Despite standing out, and facing bullying, I embraced wearing these shoes. They sparked a lasting fascination with prosthetic and bionic limbs, imagining the extraordinary transformation of my foot through advanced machinery, a childhood fascination that endured.
During my childhood, while watching a documentary about technological advancements with my parents, I was particularly struck by the section about bionic limbs. They showcased a patient who had lost his right arm and a Japanese doctor connecting wires to his skin with conductor pads, similar to plugging in electronic devices. The narrator translated the doctor's words, explaining intricate details about prosthetics. This moment deepened my interest in bionic limbs and inspired me to explore the connection between engineering and medicine.

At the same time, I also have a keen interest in engineering supported by my peers who would similarly agree that I have a talent for innovating new ideas. I’ve also created many engineering projects of my own, ranging from physical creations to crafting intricate 3D models on my computer. These two seemingly contrasting passions, together with my interest in bionic limbs led me to discover more about bioengineering. When exploring the connection between engineering and medicine, I enjoy the concept of bionic limbs. I am really into their intricacies and I can't get enough of learning more about them. I love reading articles and watching videos on the latest bionic limb advancements. I even took the plunge and conducted a literature review on bionic limbs by going through multiple study articles from a range of three years. I was able to compare and contrast the changes of advancements to the bionic limbs and even uncover new information in this field.
Selecting the right university for my studies posed a significant challenge. My biggest wish is to help others and I strongly believe that a medical career is the most effective way to fulfill my intentions. Even if every job in the world offers the same pay, requires the same effort, and earns the same reputation. I would still choose to work in medicine. The joy from the moment of helping others is the most satisfying, even more than earning a large sum of money.
Finding a program that perfectly aligns with my interests was quite challenging. I don't want to give up on my medical studies to focus solely on engineering. The thing is, I’m not too keen on giving up my passion to study medicine to go all-in on engineering. I wish for a way to have the best of both worlds. Discovering the Ramathibodi medical engineering program filled me with immense excitement. I believe this program would allow me to explore just what intrigued me, the bridging middle ground between engineering and medicine. The 7-year dual program including 6 years of medical study and an extra year dedicated to engineering is precisely what I’ve wanted and I am eagerly looking forward to entering the program.
If I get the opportunity to study in this program, my main excitement lies in connecting and collaborating with fellow enthusiasts who share my passion for both medicine and engineering. My overarching goal is to pursue a medical career and leverage the knowledge and engineering skills I acquire to positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities in our country through advancements in bionic limbs.

V --- (SOP Feedback) --- V

Person 1 (English Teacher): A wonderful job of using your personal experiences to explain your choices moving forward. Your goal to help people in the future with similar issues that you have is inspiring and articulated with skill and purpose. Consider adding more “jargon” related to engineering and medicine that indicates your knowledge of these subjects is high. Some of your paragraphs could be joined together to give a more cohesive structure.

(Score based on the Rubric: 6/6)

Person 2 (Peer): First of all, I would like to express that this SOP is one of the most effective written works I have ever encountered. However, I believe that everything can be infinitely better. It was a great idea to connect your background and experiences to illustrate the ambitions that have driven you toward becoming a doctor. In the first three paragraphs, the content heavily emphasizes emotional feelings, which may reduce the credibility of the writing. It would be better if you considered focusing more on the initiating point that led you to view a career in medicine as one that truly aligns with your needs. This could involve discussing insights gained from classes at school, accomplishments in extracurricular activities or competitions, and how these experiences have shaped your interests and personality. A few carefully chosen details can set you apart from others, touching the reader’s heart and allowing them to see your ambition of being a doctor in the future.
Person 3 (Senior): I enjoy the ideas you shared so far. These are great elements in your past and thinking that show you have interests in the field of medicine and engineering. Though, it can be even better by adding some spices, to make the reading fun, as I see some of these lines show that you have an interesting way of speaking.In the second paragraph, I believe your experiences with bullying and the lessons in emotional intelligence could be even more impactful if shared in a more human, relatable way. Rather than a concise explanation of what you learned, try to tell your story with a personal touch. Connect with the reader's heart by sharing the moments, and thoughts that shaped your emotional intelligence. I’m sure there’s an anecdote or a note of what you felt that may take courage to put it in the SOP. And that’s the point you want to show, you have the courage that makes you have what it takes for this MD MEng.Another tip I could give is a way we can show we know what you are getting yourself into. If you have the detailed curriculum of the courses Med and Biomed students have to take, mention them and your thoughts and further benefits from taking them. The important note for this tip is that you must be sure for 80% that your reference to the “courses” are accurate or else it would just show you don’t know what you are getting yourself into. For instance, look up how detailed a topic you expect yourself to know for each medical science course on the cardiovascular system, or what engineering principles this program is bringing up, or need to know in the biomed eng field. These are great so far but there’s some rework on the 2nd paragraph to try out. Furthermore, for other paragraphs, make sure it’s succeeding in its point. Like how the 2nd paragraph is to show courage. Some are to show your knowledge of the program. Make sure every paragraph has the purpose of leaving readers with interest and eagerness to see you get to these aspirations you have.

Person 1 (English Teacher): Some strong improvements were made from draft 1 - well done. Could perhaps add smoother transitions between paragraphs as one of the other reviewers mentioned. I was just thinking about how Thailand has a high number of traffic accidents and I wonder if that might be a consideration as bionic limbs are presumably much in demand. Might add a personal touch to your SOP.

(Score based on the Rubric: 6/6)

Person 2: I've noticed the improvements in your Statement of Purpose (SOP) compared to the initial draft, and I commend your progress. To strengthen your SOP further, consider adding specific experiences related to bionic limbs. Describing your involvement in research projects or internships within this field will enrich your narrative and underscore your commitment to a medical career. Highlighting these experiences will provide the admissions committee with a clearer picture of your journey and passion for advancing medical science. Additionally, connect these experiences to your broader aspirations within the medical field, emphasizing the skills and insights gained. This adjustment will enhance the substance of your SOP and demonstrate your dedication to contributing meaningfully to the field of medicine. Keep refining your narrative, and I look forward to the continued development of your Statement of Purpose.
Person 3 (Senior): It is more concise now. The structure is clearer and easy to read. Good job!This could just be a style of writing or a thing you can still work on next time, which is a technique of show don’t tell. From reading this, I feel that the anecdotes are interesting but don't leave me with any emotional sensation, which is the point of telling these anecdotes in the first place, to achieve authenticity.For instance, “My biggest wish is to help others and I strongly believe that a medical career is the most effective way to fulfill my intentions.” The following sentence in this paragraph was about how you summarized your feeling about choosing med but it lacks detail on what exactly is keeping you from choosing med. I don’t doubt your care for others but it’s still incomplete reasoning as it doesn’t necessarily have to be MED to help others. In what exact studying MED help you to be able to do something?Questions like why don’t you just study biomedical engineering or biomedical science that does align with your interest and would not require 4 extra years of clinical placement and engineering study. Have you put some thought into this?

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