From Security Guard to Veterinarian: A Meaningful Journey Made Possible by the Chula-Rural Scholarship 

From a young student in Nan Province with limited financial resources, who had to work while studying and once worked as a security guard while waiting for his university entrance results, Mr. Weeraphong Saehan was given an opportunity to pursue higher education at Chulalongkorn University through the “Chula-Rural” Scholarship Program. 

He went on to fulfill his dream of becoming a veterinarian and graduated from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science. Today, Mr. Weeraphong returned to the Chulalongkorn campus as a veterinary student once again, pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Veterinary Science, specializing in surgery. 

Mr. Weeraphong recalls that the journey to where he is today was not easy. 

While studying at Tha Wang Pha Pittayakom School in Nan Province, he helped ease his family’s financial burden. On weekends, he worked alongside his mother, who was a farmer, and also took on various freelance jobs while saving money to cover his educational expenses. 

“It was just my mother and me. She was a farmer and also took on various odd jobs. On the weekends I helped her work and saved money for school supplies, uniforms, snacks, and meals.” 

Financial constraints were not the only challenges. Transportation and access to technology were also obstacles, as his home was far from the district school. Many of his friends who studied alongside him also did not continue their education at a higher level. 

During high school, Mr. Weeraphong received a scholarship from the Princess Chulabhorn Foundation, which enabled him to complete his secondary education. When he reached Grade 12, he began searching for an answer to an important question: What did he want to study at university? 

After speaking with his teachers and reflecting on his own interests, he realized that he had always felt a strong connection with animals. He began researching different faculties and eventually discovered that veterinary medicine was the field he wanted to pursue. 

Mr. Weeraphong recalls learning about the Chula-Rural Scholarship during Grade 12 through his school’s career guidance program, which helped students from the provinces learn about opportunities for higher education and scholarships suited to their circumstances. 

“I learned about the Chula-Rural Scholarship from a teacher who explained what scholarships were available for university. Students at schools in the provinces often have limited financial resources, so the guidance program helped us understand what direction we could take after high school.” 

The application process for the Chula-Rural Scholarship considers several factors, including the applicant’s place of residence, academic performance, and interview results. Faculty members from the Chula-Rural Program also visit applicants’ homes to meet and speak with them and their families. 

For one young student from Nan Province, this was an important opportunity to take the first steps toward his dream of studying veterinary medicine at Chulalongkorn University. 

While waiting for his university entrance results, Mr. Weeraphong did not simply idle the time away. He traveled to Chiang Mai with a friend to look for work and eventually became a security guard at Wat Chedi Luang. 

That period was filled with uncertainty. He did not know what his examination results were. If he was not accepted into university, he might have had to continue working while preparing to take the entrance examination again. 

“I felt very lost and uncertain about whether I would pass. If I didn’t, I thought I would have to take the entrance exam again, and in the meantime, I would have to continue working.” 

Then an important day arrived. 

While working as a security guard one evening, he refreshed his phone screen to check his examination results—and discovered that he had been accepted into the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Chulalongkorn University. 

“I was happy, shocked, and excited. There were so many emotions all at once. But the first person I told the good news to was my mother, and she was very happy for me. All the effort we put into studying and preparing for the exam had finally paid off. It was one of the happiest days of my life.” 

From working as a security guard in Chiang Mai, he became a full-fledged “Chula student.” 

Starting university life at Chulalongkorn was not easy. He had to adapt to a new environment and social setting, as well as a much more demanding academic experience than in high school.

The Chula-Rural Program played an important role in helping students adjust. Before the academic year began, the program organized an orientation and foundation camp to prepare students both academically and for life at university. 

“The Chula-Rural Program helped a lot. Before the semester started, there was an orientation program that lasted about 10 days. It helped us become familiar with the situations and environment at the university.” 

Mr. Weeraphong received a full Chula-Rural Scholarship covering tuition fees, accommodation, educational materials, and personal living expenses. This allowed him to devote himself fully to his veterinary studies. 

Throughout his six years in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, he faced increasingly intensive coursework and numerous challenges. Nevertheless, he overcame each obstacle and successfully graduated. 

From a high school student in Nan Province who was uncertain whether he would have the opportunity to continue his education, Mr. Weeraphong has now fulfilled his dream and entered the veterinary profession. 

When asked what the Chula-Rural Scholarship means to him, he offered a clear definition: “The Chula-Rural Scholarship is like a scholarship that gives us both an opportunity and a career. It provides us with the opportunity and profession we can use to build a career as a veterinarian and contribute to society in other ways.” 

The words that perhaps best capture the meaning of the scholarship for him are “The Chula-Rural Program is a scholarship that offered me a new life. It makes the discouragement I once felt disappear.” 

After graduating, Mr. Weeraphong worked at a private animal hospital for one year before returning to Chulalongkorn to pursue specialized studies in animal surgery through the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Veterinary Science program. 

Today, he earns enough to support himself and provide a comfortable life for his mother. 

Looking ahead, after completing the Graduate Diploma program, he hopes, if given the opportunity and circumstances are appropriate, to continue his studies and further develop his knowledge and expertise in veterinary surgery. He also hopes to apply the knowledge and experience he gains to further improve his work at an animal hospital. 

Mr. Weeraphong’s story demonstrates that while the circumstances into which we are born may not be within our control, educational opportunities can change the course of our lives. 

“Our circumstances are one factor that can determine whether we reach our dreams. But it is something we cannot control. What we can control is our own passion, which can drive everything forward.” 

The Chula-Rural Scholarship is therefore more than just financial assistance for education. It is a scholarship that opens doors for a young person to transform his or her life—and ultimately to go on to make a meaningful contribution to society.