When work after college became a motorway to misery Phonchan Kraiwatnutsorn chose to drop out, happy to help youngsters achieve their dreams

Phonchan Kraiwatnutsorn, project entrepreneur of the Youth Venture programme, believes there are two kinds of people in the world. The first are those who work in jobs that others pay them to do. The second are people who work at things they like and find someone to pay them to do it.

She, of course, exemplifies the second group. So when did she make this decision?

"When I was an undergraduate student," she says, and points out that it took her almost five years to progress from the first group to the second. And she warns: "Always remember. It's not easy."

The turning point

Phonchan took three and a half years to complete a bachelor's degree in communication arts at Chulalongkorn University. She had four jobs in the following year, including work at a PR agency, and as a journalist.

But after being a top student and a member of her university's student council, she thought she was failing in the world of work.

"I began thinking, 'I have a good job and good pay, so why do I never feel happy?'"

Deciding a drastic change was needed, she raided her piggy bank for a trip across the world.

She wound up working for a year as a baby-sitter in the US.

"Such a big difference! But I realised happiness didn't always come from doing something big."

She attended art courses and these provided another turning point. For a girl who had never drawn or painted, she gathered a lot of confidence.

"I realised that if I intended to do things and be successful, I had to use my brain and work hard."

Career happiness

She returned to Thailand with the self-confidence gathered from her overseas experiences, and a new thought: "Happiness doesn't come from doing big things."

Her first job back on home shores was on a project for the UN Children's Fund, Unicef. That became a starting point - she has worked in the social sector ever since. She's currently working with young people, building their confidence and showing them ways they can contribute to society.

"This kind of job brings instant satisfaction, when you see someone doing things for others." It's tough work though, and the huge satisfaction is matched by the exhaustion that knocks Phonchan into a deep sleep at the end of each day.

"But by the end of the day, I feel happy. It's enough," she says contentedly.

xtra

got a plan of action?

>> Youth Venture, a sister organisation of Ashoka Innovators for the Public, is an organisation building a global movement of young change-makers.

>> Young people aged 14 to 24 who have a Venture idea and an action plan can submit it to Youth Venture by e-mail at yvth@youthventure.org or Pkraiwatnutsorn@youthventure.org.