Dare to Give Yourself the Opportunity: Two Bangkok University Accounting Students Step onto the BOT BOOTCAMP Stage and Win a National Award
Learning doesn’t happen only in the classroom. Two accounting students from Bangkok University chose to step out and challenge themselves on the BOT BOOTCAMP: THE NEXT GEN stage — returning with experience, new perspectives, and inspiration more valuable than the award itself.
From a professor’s suggestion to stepping out of their comfort zone to learn about the world of finance with the Bank of Thailand, two accounting students prove that embracing every opportunity doesn’t just lead to awards — it also builds experience, perspective, and networks of value to their future careers.
Daring to Give Yourself the Opportunity: The Starting Point of Growth
Good opportunities often begin with the courage to try — as with Kaka (Maneekarn Bualoeng), a 4th-year Accounting student and winner of 1st Runner-Up in the team category along with a 6,000-baht prize, and Benz (Nattawat Thanateerawattanakul), also a 4th-year Accounting student, who passed both rounds of selection to join the BOT BOOTCAMP: THE NEXT GEN program organized by the Bank of Thailand. Although the two started from different points, what they shared in common was the decision to seize the opportunity in front of them and step out of the classroom to experience real-world work.
Both recount that their decision to apply to the program stemmed from a suggestion by Assistant Professor Phatsaporn Tangjaikatanyu, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Accounting, who recognized their potential and encouraged them to apply. Although neither initially intended to join, once they studied the program’s details, they saw it as an important opportunity to learn about the world of finance from real experts — opening up new experiences in both knowledge and collaboration with students from various universities, as well as receiving direct knowledge transfer from senior executives of the Bank of Thailand.
A Test That Was More Than a Competition
Entering BOT BOOTCAMP was no easy task. Applicants had to pass two rounds of selection, starting with presenting themselves through a two-page slide, before moving on to an interview and pitching round to demonstrate their potential to the panel of judges — narrowing the field down to just 66 participants from applicants nationwide.
Benz recalls that one of the most challenging questions was, “What will the Bank of Thailand get from you?” — a question that forced him to seriously reflect on his own value. Meanwhile, Kaka drew on her experience from a cooperative education placement at a global Big 4 audit firm to build on her perspective regarding capital fund supervision, reflecting her intent to learn about key issues in Thailand’s financial system.
From the Classroom… to the Real World of Work
Both agree that the knowledge gained from the Faculty of Accounting is not merely textbook content but a foundation that can be built upon with real-world experience. When given the opportunity to join activities, competitions, or various programs, students can concretely connect classroom knowledge with real situations.
Kaka said that what impressed her most was that Bangkok University consistently gives students the chance to learn from expert speakers across various fields, enabling them to apply their knowledge in competitions, internships, and future work. Meanwhile Benz, who is an active student in extracurricular activities, felt that the Faculty of Accounting broadened his learning horizons — covering business, internal auditing, and working alongside industry experts — giving him a more well-rounded understanding of real work than classroom study alone could provide.
The Award May Be the Destination, But the Experience Is What’s Truly Priceless
Although Kaka was able to bring home the 1st Runner-Up award, both agree that the most valuable part wasn’t the prize money but the experience gained over the two-week program — working with peers from different universities, exchanging ideas, managing a team, and receiving guidance from national-level executives, all of which opened new perspectives they had never gained in the classroom.
For Benz, what he gained was learning that working with a diverse group of people requires listening, adapting, and drawing out the best potential in each individual. Kaka, meanwhile, felt the program let her see behind the scenes of how the Bank of Thailand operates, while drawing inspiration from experts who were ready to pass on their knowledge equally to every participant, regardless of which university or field they came from.
Every Opportunity Is a Lesson in Growth
When asked what advice they’d like to pass on, both had meaningful messages for juniors who wish to follow this path. Kaka said, “Thank you for every opportunity, whether small or big, because every opportunity helps us grow. If we’ve given it our all, there’s nothing left to regret.” Benz added, “Don’t waste time on factors you can’t control — focus on doing your best with what you can.”
Both also encourage students to dare to give themselves opportunities, not to limit their own abilities just because they think they aren’t good enough yet — because every competition, every activity, and every experience is a space for learning that helps build knowledge, new perspectives, and quality networks, all of which are important assets for future work.