Eagle of AUPP, Thong Ratanakvesal
Date: 2025-01-31T10:43:08

1. Could you tell us about yourself?

Having been raised in a household that values compassion and empathy, I would say that these are the two values that have stuck with me for the last twenty-one years. Along with my core values, adjectives such as self-starter, optimistic, and charismatic are how my peers would describe me as a friend, a brother, and a leader.

Currently, as a senior dual degree program student in Information Technology Management with American University of Phnom Penh and Computer Science major with Fort Hays State University, I have had experience working as a facilitator to promote STEAM education to over 60 elementary school students. During my junior year, along with other AUPP Eagles from my cohort, we co-founded a campaign to promote cybersecurity awareness to over 500 youths through workshops and online courses, which garnered support from the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org. I have also worked as a volunteer at AIESEC in Cambodia for one year, during which I mentored four amazing individuals who have now pursued higher leadership roles.

Besides social work, I also have my fair share of professional experience. I began my internship as an Office Apprentice for a think tank based in Phnom Penh. Later on, during my junior year, I was selected to be a remote cybersecurity intern for LGMS, a cybersecurity firm in Malaysia, where I spent my summer working as a support intern for the Penetration Testing team. In the same summer, I also received online cybersecurity training, particularly Red Teaming training modules on Immersive Lab, provided by Human Managed, a cybersecurity service company based in Singapore. Later, during the summer of 2024, while juggling my exchange student program in South Korea, I spent one week as a cybersecurity trainee for a company called INCA Internet, where I underwent training on various topics such as malware analysis, mock penetration testing, and game cheat engine. In the same summer of 2024, while juggling with six courses from my exchange program and two courses for my online degree, I also worked as a CyberOps intern with Human Managed. With persistence and dedication, I was offered a full-time position six months later as a CyberOps Analyst which is now my current job.

Apart from networking with like-minded people within Cambodia, I also have my fair share of exchange program experience. During my junior year, I was selected to participate among other Southeast Asian university students in the ASEAN Foundation-Huawei Seeds for the Future 2023 program, where I was later selected as a Cambodian representative to represent the ASEAN Foundation along with other selected ASEAN delegates during a technology summit hosted by Huawei in Shanghai, China. In 2024, I participated in two prestigious exchange programs with students from the ASEAN nations. The first one was the ASEAN Cyber Shield Exchange Student Program (ACS ESP), sponsored by the ASEAN Secretariat in partnership with the Korea Internet & Security Agency, where I was selected as one of the two fully-funded Cambodian students to immerse myself in a cybersecurity-focused exchange program at Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea for 10 months. The other one is the prestigious YSEALI Academic Fellowship program by the U.S. Department of State, another fully-funded exchange program that provided me the opportunity to learn about civic engagement from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, United States for five weeks with other young leaders from Southeast Asian countries.

2. Could you tell us about the achievements you are most proud of?

Ranking my achievements is challenging because each one requires immense effort and dedication. However, my most memorable achievement was receiving my first paycheck from my first job. Hearing my parents’ blissful cheers over the phone as I announced it to them is a cherished memory. Honestly, my favorite part of achieving something is sharing the news with my parents and hearing their genuine reactions. These priceless moments motivate me to keep pushing forward and aiming higher.

In terms of impact, the Puthi Campaign stands out. This initiative, which my friends and I started before going our separate ways, inspired me to pursue a career in cybersecurity with the motto, “Improve myself so I can help improve others.” It fueled my advocacy for online safety and cybersecurity awareness in my community and motivated me to apply for the YSEALI Academic Fellowship program. I want to give a shout-out to my fellow co-founders; I am proud to be part of the team and proud of the initiative we created. I hope we can resume and expand our campaign in the future.

When it comes to personal achievements, living in South Korea for 10 months during my exchange student period stands out. Growing up sheltered for most of my life, being on my own in a foreign country was a significant period of character development for me. During those 10 months, I faced hardship, loneliness, and a constant feeling of isolation. However, I also found confidence, solitude, and discovered my adventurous side. I have grown into a person my younger self could never have dreamed of becoming, and that is perhaps my favorite personal achievement.

3. Could you tell us about one thing or experience you encountered that changed your life?

As mentioned in the previous question, the one experience that truly redefined me as a person and helped me push beyond my known boundaries was the time I spent living in South Korea and the United States as an exchange student. The year 2024 was perhaps the most pivotal year of my life, the year I experienced the most growth, all resulting from my two exchange experiences.

There is something about trying to navigate a new environment and meeting new people who are as new to the environment as you are. It really helps you make genuine connections and perhaps form some of the strongest friendships. It was a privilege for me to be with them and exchange our cultures and stories. It is all about creating a safe space and support network among these people, and I would say that my journey would not have been as meaningful without them.

Living abroad also reignited my adventurous side. I have taken comfort in solo traveling and exploring places on my own. I really enjoyed indulging myself in museums, whether in Washington D.C., New York, Seoul, Chuncheon, Omaha, or Phnom Penh.

Though it was not all sunshine and rainbows, there were many moments of homesickness and isolation. However, over time, you learn to cope with it. My favorite way to deal with homesickness is to strive to be the happiest version of myself and create lasting memories. These experiences become the stories you share when you reunite with loved ones back home.

4. Who is the person you look up to the most?

The person I look up to the most is my father. Growing up in a household that values compassion and empathy, my father has always been a guide of these values. His unwavering support and guidance have shaped me into the person I am today.

My father has always been a self-starter, optimistic, and charismatic, qualities that I strive to embody in my own life. He has taught me the importance of perseverance and dedication, which have been crucial in my academic and professional journey. Whether it was during my time as a facilitator promoting STEAM education or co-founding a campaign to promote cybersecurity awareness, his encouragement has been a constant source of motivation. His genuine happiness and pride in my achievements have always been my driving force.

Living abroad in South Korea and the United States as an exchange student was a significant period of character development for me. During those 10 months, I faced hardship, loneliness, and a constant feeling of isolation. However, my father’s words of wisdom and encouragement helped me navigate these challenges. His belief in my abilities gave me the confidence to embrace new experiences and grow as an individual. In conclusion, my father is the person I look up to the most. His unwavering support, guidance, and belief in my abilities have shaped me into the person I am today.

5. What are the steps you took that led you to where you are right now?

Honestly, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all roadmap that led me to where I am today. It’s all about experimenting with different roles and fields, especially during my sophomore and junior years in university. The crucial piece of advice I can offer is to be bold enough to chase opportunities, embrace change, and accept failure. As cliché as it sounds, this approach has truly worked for me.

A little-known fact about me is that I initially started as a Business Administration student during my freshman year. However, I made a bold move to switch to an IT management degree in my first semester of sophomore year, despite having little prior knowledge of Information Technology. From there, it was a journey of experimentation and experience. I applied for various positions, regardless of their direct relevance to my field. During my sophomore year, I focused on expanding my network and building a strong personal brand within my peer circle. That period was when I began to build a network of peers and formed some of the most amazing friendships that still last to this day.

In my junior year, I began to narrow down and focus on choosing roles that aligned with my degree. Once again, I experimented with different fields, from data analytics and marketing to web development and finally cybersecurity. A funny story is that I received three internship rejections in one week before finally getting an offer in the field of cybersecurity and the rest is history. As I enter my last semester as a senior student, I am more focused on honing my skills to meet job requirements. This involves a lot of self-study in addition to the usual coursework from the university and investing in certifications to advance my career.

The key takeaway is to never be afraid to experiment, to change, and to fail. It’s a whole package deal: you can either choose to stay on the ground after you fall or take a quick break, get yourself up, and keep walking. You don’t need to have your entire future figured out. As long as you know the direction you’re heading and the kind of person you want to be by the end of the semester, you’ll be set for your journey.

6. What are the happiest moments of your life?

It is challenging to rank my moments of happiness, as each memory holds a special place in my heart. I perceive myself more as a mosaic of cherished memories, whether it is something as small as acquiring my first pet or as significant as receiving the scholarship acceptance email.

If you have read through my previous paragraphs, you may have assumed that my happiest memories are likely the moments when I achieved my major goals and received acceptance emails. While this is true, it is also important to acknowledge the small victories I have attained along the way to achieving the major ones. These moments, big and small, are the building blocks of my happiness. They remind me that every achievement, no matter how minor it may seem, is a significant part of my journey.

It is easy to become captivated by people’s moments of happiness, especially those portrayed on social media, but it is crucial to remember that this is merely one aspect of their lives that they choose to display. They do not reveal the sacrifices, sleepless nights, and hardships behind the scenes that lead to these particular moments. To return to the question, I would say that my soon-to-be most cherished happy memory will be when I walk on the stage to receive my degree on my graduation day at AUPP. #ClassOf2025

7. Is there any advice to the people that look up to you?

Stay focused on your own path. It can be tempting to compare your progress to others, especially when it seems like they’ve achieved so much more, even though you both started at the same point. I still occasionally find myself comparing my achievements to my peers’, but instead of letting it demotivate me, I use it as motivation to strive for greatness. Let this aspiration fuel your dreams and be the adrenaline that propels you toward your goals. Remember, everyone has different seasons, someone else’s harvest season might be your planting season. Keep nurturing your own growth, and your time to reap the rewards will come.

A great personality and attitude, paired with strong connections, will take you far. This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned during my university journey. It’s not just about skills; it’s also about your attitude toward the tasks and roles that were given to you, and the people you surround yourself with. Strive to make positive and genuine connections while you can, as it becomes harder to connect deeply with others as we move through different stages of life.

Finally, my last advice as a senior: take it easy and trust the process. It may sound cliché, but it’s true. I’ve seen peers burn out before they even graduate. Know your physical limits and strive for a healthy work-life balance. Travel, find a hobby, allow yourself to take breaks. Believe that your efforts will not betray you if you put in the work. You only get to experience your freshman year once, so make the most of it while you can.