AMCHAM Thailand Foundation Scholarship Alumnus: Praiwan “Ball” Channarong

AMCHAM Thailand Foundation Scholarship Alumnus: Praiwan “Ball” Channarong

Meet Praiwan “Ball” Channarong, a proud alumnus of the AMCHAM Thailand Foundation Scholarship Program, Class of 2023, and now a Full-Stack Developer at ClickNext, with a passion for continuous learning. A graduate of Burapha University with a B.Sc. in Software Engineering, Ball recently returned to the AMCHAM/FedEx Career Camp 2024 to share his journey as both an alumnus and a young professional navigating his first job.

Hello, dear reader. My name is Praiwan Channarong, but most people call me Ball or Bally. I recently received my Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Burapha University and now work as a Full-Stack Developer position at ClickNext, a role I secured through an internship. After completing my internship, I continued to work part-time with ClickNext for a year.

Due to financial challenges – my father is disabled, and my mother has been unemployed since I was in high school- I had to earn a living throughout my bachelor’s degree. During my education, I worked part-time at the university’s Computer Center, providing software and hardware services. Since then, I studied and worked at the same time.

I applied for the AMCHAM Scholarship because I have always aspired to be part of an American scholarship program that enhances my skills and provides financial support at the same time. After learning about the AMCHAM Scholarship from a university publicist, I realized that this scholarship provides everything I need.

The AMCHAM scholarship has helped me hone my skills, including boosting my confidence and motivating me to try new things. Engaging with the AMCHAM community gave me valuable insights from experienced professionals who offered great advice.

As an AMCHAM Scholarship recipient, I participated in orientation activities like financial planning and CPR & AED course on emergency first response. The Career Camp included site visits to AMCHAM member companies, mock interviews, and a fun bowling and karaoke session where I guided friends in bowling and enjoyed singing together. Both Orientation Camp and AMCHAM/ FedEx Career Camp activities included ice-breaking and dinner to help us get to know each other.

In conclusion, the AMCHAM scholarship has enhanced my skills, especially mock interviewing, where I learned to use the STAR model to communicate more clearly. I am grateful for this experience and proud to be a part of AMCHAM.