“Ajarn Chen” energizes Thammasat University freshmen by drawing lessons from the crises of Motorola and Kodak, contrasting with Fujifilm’s remarkable turnaround, advising students to find their core and take action to become the nation’s hope. "tags": ["education", "inspiration", "university", "business lessons", "innovation", "youth empowerment"]
On 2 Aug 2026 GMT+7, at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Center new student orientation for the 2026 academic year under the theme “Thammasat: Where We Are Irreplaceable” The atmosphere was lively and warm, welcoming over 3,500 freshmen.
The event’s highlight was the Talk & Inspire session titled "Where you matter," featuring Yotsanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, attending as an alumnus of Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), class of 1997.
Yotsanan emphasized the value of equality within the yellow and red university community: “Regarding everyone being equal, I think this is the best place for that. Whenever we feel we have gone far, we recall our days at Thammasat. No matter who we are, we all care for one another equally.”
He then invited the audience to reflect on his life lessons—from fear and failure to adaptation for survival—highlighting that a meaningful life requires keeping pace with the changing world.
“Before and during my studies, I had only one request: that my life must not become extinct. Why? Because to be a meaningful person, we must be able to exist in this world—not just at Thammasat, but also in life after graduation.”
Yotsanan recounted a turning point after graduating with an electrical engineering degree in 2001, when global tech giant Motorola, which inspired his studies and whose phones his family sold, began shutting down. What once seemed like a risk-free life became uncertain until he was advised to break out of his old mindset.
“An elder recommended a book to me. Upon reading, I learned that the health trend was rising. I thought, ‘I fully studied engineering, but I’m off track.’ Moreover, the book said we must learn and adapt quickly, or we’d be crushed by today’s challenges. I thought, ‘What now? I’m off course and if I don’t change, I’ll be crushed.’” Yotsanan said. Yet, that crisis became a catalyst for innovation. Yotsanan decided to build on his existing knowledge, turning crisis into opportunity to benefit humanity.
“I shifted from radio signals with a single hypothesis to signals from the brain to help disabled people regain mobility. This was my effort to maximize the benefits of what I learned while adapting to a changing world.”
To illustrate the fast-paced business world, Yotsanan cited the classic case of Kodak and Fujifilm, two giants in film photography facing the digital tsunami with completely different outcomes.
“Fujifilm truly understood its core insight: it’s not a film company but a chemical company, excelling in nanomaterials. So, even if film disappears, it’s fine because they knew where to focus their life and were ready to adapt for the near future.”
At the end, Yotsanan reflected on Singapore’s 50-year nation-building through investment in “human resources,” meaning its people, urging students to abandon ego and embrace lifelong learning.
“The winner’s attitude may no longer help us if ego remains. Today, success is impossible with ego. The challenger’s constant enthusiasm to pioneer new things is essential. Most importantly, never stop doing, thinking, or learning. Learning isn’t just four years; it’s lifelong.”
“Today, I am confident everyone has meaning—not just personal meaning, but as hopes of Thailand, the meaning of our country. Have you found your meaning yet?” Yotsanan concluded amid applause.
