My grandmother is my inspiration

Professor Dr. Suvajara
 Vajarasathira

Following the celebration of the International Women's Day last week we received this inspirational story from Ninn, one of our DL students.

Professor Dr. Suvajara Vajarasathira is my grandmother, I call her “Koon Ya” (Grandma) in Thai.  She was born in 1924 in Bangkok. She was an excellent student who topped her class in Thailand.  She won a KINGS scholarship, being in the top 5% of her final year at University. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Medicine from Mahidol University and then went on to study in New Orleans, America. 

In the 1950’s not many Thai women got to study in university. In Thai culture we thought girls didn't need an education because they would get married and become housewives.  It was very hard for women to get the scholarship and study overseas. Grandma was a trailblazer in Thailand, being only 1 of 3 girls in her field of medicine, and the only girl to receive a KINGS scholarship to study in America. 

In America she faced prejudice and discrimination from people, classmates and teachers. The other problem was because she was a very pretty girl a lot of men spoke amorously to her. However, the other 4 doctors doing the same scholarship looked after her and treated her like a younger sister. She graduated with a Doctoral degree in Medicine and finished her 5 year internship in an American hospital in Chicago.

After she came back to Thailand she went to visit her fiancé, but America was too far and she was gone for too long. He had married another girl. As a requirement, to pay back her scholarship she worked her state job as a Doctor in the countryside of Thailand. This made forgetting about her ex-fiancé easier.               

               

She worked in the countryside of Thailand for about 3-4 years. When Mahidol University started the “Faculty of Tropical Medicine” she was selected to come back to Bangkok to set it up in 1960.  As a researcher and lecturer, she travelled to many overseas countries. My greatest delight was when she brought home souvenirs for me.  But this meant I had to have been well-behaved and done well in school. The Japanese chocolate was my favourite. She was a working and practising doctor until she was 70 years old.

                

Koon Ya is 91 years old this year and although her body may be failing her mind is still very sharp. She is a great person who in her 50 years’ service to Thailand has given up much and helped many people. That is why I feel proud and privileged to help support her now.

Thanks to Ninn for sharing this wonderful story about a remarkable woman!

• Do you have someone in your family or your culture that you consider a "trailblazer"?  In what way?
• A lot has changed for women of this generation. What has changed and are the challenges the same?

Why not share a comment on the story or the discussion questions here!