KIS SPOTLIGHT: Alumni Updates

This month, I interviewed Pitcher Tiatragul (CO’16). Pitcher is a student at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Here’s what he had to say!

What are you studying? Why did you choose to study in this field?

I am majoring in Accounting and Business Administration with a Concentration in Economics and a minor in Leadership Studies. Frankly, I chose to do Accounting because my mum has a business that she wants the family to keep running and I thought I might as well do that. But I also decided to do it after taking the first principles of accounting class that I really enjoyed. Then I added Business Administration with a Concentration in Economics later because again, I really enjoyed it and thought the classes were interesting. And I am doing Leadership Studies through the Comprehensive Leadership Program, hoping to develop my own leadership philosophy with my time here.

What advice do you have for students in MYP and DP?

Time management is probably the most important skill to have as a student and probably in life. When you are able to manage your time, you can complete tasks and assignments intentionally, and it opens up space for activities that you are passionate about.

Also, invest some of your time in activities that you love doing. All these things can become a talking point for socializing, as well as when you do interviews for jobs and internships.

What do you love most about your university?

Almost everyone who comes here would say they love the community. But I also love how Gonzaga does not only expect academic excellence from students, but also intentionally develops the whole person (intellectually, spiritually, culturally, physically, and emotionally), while providing the resources necessary to do so.

And of course, our great basketball team!!!

What do you miss most about KIS and Bangkok?

I miss playing sports competitively for the school and all my friends from home. I miss having the MRT and BTS to get around easily because we only have buses here and sometimes it’s hard in the cold to get around. I also miss the food back at home.

Why did you choose to study at Gonzaga University?

My brother (Putter) came here and having the opportunity to visit him multiple times, I knew that this school would be a good fit for me. The small class size (probably about 20 on average), accessible leadership opportunities, and the size of the school in addition to the location of where it’s at. Gonzaga is also very generous in terms of scholarships and financial aid which made the school more affordable than other places.

What are your future plans?

I would like to graduate from my undergraduate program and continue studying for a further year in the Masters in Accounting program here at Gonzaga. Ideally, at that point, I will have a job offer from one of the Big 4 firms here in the US so I can work here for a couple of years before going back to Thailand.

What advice do you have for aspiring accountants?

I would say invest time in learning and reading about data analytics in relation to accounting as that is the direction the field is moving towards. Other than that, get to know other people in the field well as a simple interaction can go a long way.

How have you contributed to the university? What clubs, frats etc. have you joined?

Last year, I was a part of New Venture Lab where I was placed in a team to work with a local startup organization. I had to work on market research and advertising for the company. I also joined the Bulldog Band and play the Baritone at our school’s basketball games. This year, I have had the opportunity to serve as a Resident Assistant and work as a peer tutor for the student-athletes and have worked with several students to excel in core subjects in the business school.

Do you continue to exemplify the IB Learner Profile even though you are studying in university? How?

I would say yes. It’s not that I actively seek out doing activities that align with the IB Learner Profile but it just becomes a part of life. One thing that Gonzaga does a lot is have conversations on social justice issues and it is important to approach the conversation by being open-minded. It is also important as I mentioned earlier to live a balanced lifestyle. These are just some of the examples of how it is lived out following life after graduation.

How has the IB program prepared you for university?

The IB program has prepared me greatly in terms of finding a balance between academic and extracurricular activities. It has allowed me to better manage and find time to do those activities while focusing on academics as well. The IB program also emphasizes individualized projects while relying on other resources which is a big part of what we do here at Gonzaga.