Name: Peeraya Rujjanavet ID#6280143

A1: Positionality Statement Date: May 14, Thursday

Positionality Statement

Each person has different characteristics due to the fact that we have experienced the

world from different perspectives. I was born and raised in an upper middle class family as a

second-born with one elder brother. My parents are both Thai with a little Chinese influence

inherited from my father’s side. Thai society is the main influencer to me because I spend most

of my life here. Both of my parents earned master degrees which have a great impact on me

because they have many wide perspectives to teach me and make me have a passion in my life.

Moreover, I have experienced other cultures when I was an exchange student in the United States

for one year which can be used parallel with my background. All of my dimensions of

positionality make me understand myself as a person. Thus, I realized myself that I become an

ambitious person because of my family, national country, and socio-economic status.

Becoming second-born in the family teaches me to become greater in order to surpass my

sibling. My family has four members including my father, my mother, me, and one elder-brother

whom I love and care for. Him and I have different interests and characteristics that can perform

better than one another. Though our parents are rarely comparing us, I still see the differences.

From that reason, it creates the competition between us which I have to make stronger labels to

be able to compare with my brothers. For example, as he is better at sports than me, I tried harder

to beat him and keep practicing by joining the school football team. Moreover, in doing

anything, I tried to do my best to get the complement from my parents. Nonetheless, it is natural

for the one who has siblings to compete with each other. It is not that I want to be better than him
but it is because I do not want to be inferior to him. It can be seen that having siblings to be

compared with makes me more determined with my goals most of the time.

The rivalry in Thai society has raised me to focus on one’s success. The competition has

been started since the young ages in Thai children. Nowadays, many Thais parents have to apply

for the school after they just give birth to their children because they want their kids to be in a

good school. Moreover, many young students have to take outside tutoring to be able to compete

with other students. The reason behind this is because in Thai society, people are caring about

getting a higher education inorder to be accepted in a good company for their job. For example,

when others ask questions about me with my parents, they will ask about my school or grades

first and will compare with their children. Many parents wanted their kids to have a higher grade

or put their children in a field they did not want to be in. In addition, some people are also looked

down on for the one who did not succeed which created a great tension in the society. Though

my parents didn’t force me to study things I did not want, I still have to make a high grade to not

let them down. In addition, I did not perceive that there is higher rivalry in Thailand than I

expected till I went to America as an exchange student and see that most of the students are

enjoying their after school activities more than focusing only on education. It has shown me that

the Thai culture has motivated the competitiveness inside me.

Most people in the middle to upper class tend to have an achievement in education and a

job which makes me push myself to be in that position someday. I was studying in a private

school which normally has kids from the middle to upper class parents. The class size is

appropriate to make us focus on class activities. Since, my friends and I have been asked about

what we wanted to be in the future at a young age, most of us have a clear plan. Moreover, we do
not have to do part-time jobs to support their family expenses which can mainly focus on our

education. Our clear goals and financial support from our family, it is easier for people in middle

to upper class to be accomplished. Now, most of my friends or seniors I know are in a good

college and tend to get a great job after they graduate. The tension is happening because I have to

focus more on my goals to be successful as other people in the same socio-economic status

which result in me putting extra effort with my passion.

My family, national country, and socio-economic status raised me to become ambitious

and mainly focus on my life’s goals. However, I was not uncomfortable because no one was

forcing me. Though some kids might have issues with it if they were forced too much by their

environment. The characteristic I have was shaped by my demographic, ideological, and

personal experience and it might change in the future when I have more dimension in my life. I

should look out for more opportunities in my life to widen my perspective and to become a better

oneself.