When did you start selling snacks at school?
In my senior year of high school, my dad’s business went bankrupt. I didn’t want to bother my parents so I tried to take care of myself. But when I was in my first year of college, my mom got breast cancer and she needed a lot of money for her treatment. That’s when I decided to sell bean curd jelly in milk soup at my university. I earned around B4,000-5,000 per month. I also used to make kek huay [chrysanthemum] tea, hence my name. But I ran into some production problems. So now I sell sandwiches too.
Did business improve after people heard your story?
A lot of people supported me after they heard my mom’s story. I feel thankful and it gives my mom the courage to fight her cancer [now in stage four].
What do you think of the people who accused you of lying?
Honestly, I don’t really care about this issue. I just heard about it from friends. The truth is I am really helping my mom and my family. I don’t pay attention to these rumors because I already have too many problems to figure out.
What has running your own business taught you?
I had a very comfortable childhood. Then our family’s business declined and my mom got sick. I have learned that I should pay more attention to my family. If this crisis hadn’t happened, then I wouldn’t know how important family is.I also learned is that Thai teens should have goals and a positive attitude in life. Most Thai teens just live life day-by-day, without knowing what they want to achieve.
What should they be striving for?
Definitely not money! For me, family is most important. A warm and happy family is the foundation for being a good person. If a family knows how to manage their money, support one another, take care of their health and provide education for their kids, I am sure they can be good people.
What’s next for you?
This year I will continue to earn money to pay for my mom’s medical bills and to pay off my family’s debts. Luckily, the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University is now helping with my mom’s treatments. I’m almost a third year student, which means I will have less time to sell snacks around the campus, so I’m thinking of a more sustainable way to raise money. Apart from helping my family, I also want to pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker and establish funds to help other families.
