Page 11 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine Volume 1, Issue 3 - August 2023
P. 11

OVERCOMING DISABILITY



                                                                                  The first public speaking
                                                                                  appearances of the author in
                                                                                  front of a large number of people,
                                                                                  delivering on the struggles and
                                                                                  lesson learnt to inspire the
                                                                                  crowd. (Photo by Nitcharee
                                                                                  Peneakchanasak)

















          keeping its relatability, no matter how often the   live my life normally and there would be moments
          story has been told. I think the most challenging   where I have to speak up and raise awareness
          part is to find new stories to tell and to inspire   about it. As the only amputee employee there, I
          others. Of course, everywhere I was invited to      want to raise more awareness about issues that
          speak, I might be telling a similar story, and the   person with disabilities still face daily, hoping that
          same story can be told for only a certain period    my voice will lead towards equality.
          of time.’ I further explain that the most important    I believe that all people have different roles
          aspects of being a motivational speaker are         and abilities and they can use what they’re good
          practising speaking or finding new stories to tell   at to inspire others. They can be representatives
          and living ‘the same as on stage’. If the way I live   or leaders in various fields. Therefore, positive
          my life is not the same as what I say, the listeners   thinking will allow me to overcome all obstacles
          won’t feel truly inspired. So, my job is to be my   and pass on the inspiration to those around me.
          positive self, make myself happy while harvesting
          more experiences, so I can use those experiences     The author contacted disability at the age of 14, but
          to inspire more people or support others. Being      despite her condition, she has always maintained her
                                                               positiveness and active lifestyle.  Graduated with a
          positive doesn’t mean you never have negative        Bachelor Degree in Journalism and Mass-communication
          thoughts or are overly optimistic. Sometimes, I      at the Thammasat University, Thailand, she is passionate
          call myself a positive-thinking girl and admit that   about motivating people to live a positive life and
                                                               has actively engaged in delivering several speeches
          sometimes I am bitter about life. I think it’s normal   and motivational talks across the country. She is
          for human beings to have both sides: positive and    currently pursuing her Master Degree in Industrial and
                                                               Organizational Psychology at Chulalongkorn University,
          negative. Personally, thinking positively comes a    Thailand. At present, the author works on communication
          lot easier than thinking negatively. There are many   and campaigning for persons with disabilities in Thailand
          times when I suddenly have negative thoughts,        and continues her goal to motivate and inspire people to
                                                               live a positive life, and advocating for inclusive workplace
          but I feel that any time I become positive, the      for all.
          negative thoughts will just come and disappear.
          Apart from being a motivational speaker, I also
          work full-time at a private hospital, focusing on
          corporate communication, where I admit that I
          experienced some prejudice at the beginning. If
          I work with disabled people in an environment
          where everyone understands each other, everyone
          treats each other fairly. However, when I work in
          a company that never deals with disabled people,
          people forget about the dis because they think I





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