A vision of self-motivation

“Education is the door to opportunity. If I did not have a bachelor’s degree I wouldn’t be able to reach this point,” says Nattapum Saengprasit, who is congenitally blind and has been working at Advance Info Services’ call centre for over seven years.

Nattapum professionally communicates with customers on the phone. He provides services like suggesting and helping customers to change mobile packages.

“Even though I’m a disabled, I’m expected to maintain the company’s standards with no exception,” he says.

Nattapum, who gained second-class honours in Education from Chiang Mai University, says he couldn’t have come this far without the scholarship from the Bangkok Post Foundation.

“This scholarship was the only opportunity I had.”

From primary to high school, Nattapum always went to state-run schools in Chiang Mai province, his hometown. Tuition fees had never been a problem, unlike university.

“I’m so glad I got accepted into the university but my family’s finances were not good enough to support me,” says Nattapum, who lived with single mother and was brought up by his grandparents. “Not to mention the cost of living for people with disabilities is three times higher than normal people.”

Nattapum needed help from his friends to read through all the books, or hire someone to read and record it. In order to make an A4 sheet of braille cost up to 30 baht.

His first year at university was supported by his school teacher and whenever he had a free time, Nattapum went to Bangkok to earn extra money selling lottery tickets.

With the help of his advisor, Nattapum received a 40,000-baht scholarship from the Bangkok Post Foundation until he finished university.

“I always look at obstacles as self-motivation. I need to ask myself whether or not I’ve tried hard enough”

“I’m so delighted I received it. I’ve never worried about lessons,” he says. “If I hadn’t received the scholarship, I would end up being a beggar or a lottery ticket seller.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the foundation and all those who gave me a chance to stand on my own,” he says.

The grant was given to him without binding conditions. But the feeling of owing society always remains in his mind.

“I know what it’s like to be a receiver so I want to pass something on to society,” he says. “Every year, there is special training for the visually impaired. I always volunteer to teach them computing and technology.”

“I always look at obstacles as self-motivation.

I need to ask myself whether or not I’ve tried hard enough.”