Recently, while scrolling through TikTok, a video caught my eye and made me stop. It was from a university student currently interning in China, sharing his daily life and unfiltered experiences as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) student. After watching it, my immediate thought was, "Wow, Thai students can study like this too?" So, I reached out to chat with the creator.
That student is "Chopper" Rattikorn Angkab, a 6th-year TCM student at the School of Public Health, University of Phayao. We spoke online, as he is currently in Nanning, China, while I am in Thailand. His story was so captivating that I just had to share it.
The Beginning I asked what made him choose this path. Chopper explained that he was drawn to TCM's holistic approach to healthcare, which emphasizes bodily balance through methods like Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture,moxibustion, Tui Na (massage), Gua Sha, and cupping—practices he noticed are becoming increasingly popular in Thailand.
What really stuck with me, however, is his belief that a good doctor needs more than just medical knowledge; they must also have compassion and truly understand their patients' suffering. His dream isn't just about having a career, but about using his knowledge to improve people's quality of life.
The Freshman Who Knew He Had to Study in China A major highlight of this program is that students must study and intern in China. When asked how he felt learning this during his first semester as a freshman, Chopper admitted he was both excited and anxious. Navigating the language, culture, and life in a foreign country wouldn't be as easy as staying in Thailand. Yet, he saw it as an opportunity to learn this ancient art directly from its source. Looking back today, he knows he made the right choice, having successfully overcome those challenges.
Expectations vs. Reality Before starting the program, Chopper thought TCM was mostly just acupuncture and herbs.Once the classes began, he realized the field was far deeper and more complex. It involves diagnostic theories, practical training, and crucially, studying Western medicine alongside it (which he referred to in Chinese as 西医, Xīyī). On top of the heavy workload, he had to master a massive set of specialized Chinese medical vocabulary. He admitted that the initial adjustment period was tough, but it ultimately built up his patience and discipline.
"Lucky to Have Studied Chinese" I absolutely loved this part, as Chopper noted it was his biggest advantage. The program is a dual-degree track: a Bachelor's in Traditional Chinese Medicine paired with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese.Once in China, he put everything to use—from everyday conversations to understanding medical terminology and learning directly from Chinese experts.
Real-World Internship: Not What He Expected When the actual internship began, Chopper found it quite different from his expectations. He learned directly from patients, witnessed the meticulous nature of medical work, and took on closer patient care responsibilities. He even got to observe surgeries alongside Chinese professors, which he said gave him a completely new perspective. The biggest challenge remained navigating the Chinese language in a medical context,along with adjusting to a teaching system and workplace culture vastly different from Thailand's. However, he viewed these hurdles as clear indicators of exactly where he needed to improve.
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An Unforgettable Case His most memorable case involved observing the care of a Chinese cancer patient, from an MRI diagnosis to acupuncture treatment. He witnessed the integration of modern medical technology with traditional Chinese practices. This taught him that patient care must be highly individualized and, above all, delivered with deep empathy.
This experience also reaffirmed his career choice. He saw firsthand that TCM isn't just passed-down folklore; it’s a systematic science that requires continuous practice and integration with modern medical knowledge.
"Experience Creates Wisdom" Listening to his story, I couldn't help but realize that none of this happened by chance. It is the result of the University of Phayao's carefully designed curriculum, built on their educational philosophy:"Experience Creates Wisdom."
This concept immerses students in hands-on, real-world situations. It acts as a tool to help them discover themselves and reach their goals, using the knowledge provided by the university to overcome obstacles independently.
Viewed through this lens, Chopper's journey makes perfect sense. Studying and interning in China, facing language barriers, and adapting to a new work culture are all tests that require students to apply their accumulated knowledge and skills to solve problems one by one. This is exactly what shapes Chopper and his peers into confident individuals capable of pushing past their own limits.
From an Anxious Freshman to Someone Pushing Boundaries I asked him how much he has grown compared to that first-year student. He said his mindset, sense of responsibility, and confidence have completely transformed. The once-anxious freshman has become someone who bravely steps beyond his limits. The most valuable lesson he shared is that success doesn't come from a lack of obstacles, but from a refusal to stop learning and growing. He ended with a favorite Chinese proverb:
医者仁心，精益求精 Roughly translated: A doctor must have a benevolent heart and constantly strive for perfection.
Finally, on behalf of all ten students in the 8th generation of the TCM program, Chopper left a message for current and prospective students:
"Stay determined and believe in the path you’ve chosen. Even though it isn’t easy, every challenge helps you grow. Don't forget to prepare your Chinese language skills, keep an open mind to new things, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.What matters isn't being perfect on day one, but never stopping your self-improvement."
He then closed with another quote I really loved:
不忘初心，方得始终 Never forget why you started, and you will eventually reach your goal.
>>Watch this clip<<
From a TikTok Story to an Inspiration for Many When I started writing this, I thought I was just sharing one student's story. But as I finished, I realized it's much bigger than that. It’s about a program that might seem distant to me, but represents a dream destination for many others. Most importantly, this program doesn't just offer knowledge; it thrusts students into the real working world at the very birthplace of this medical discipline. Armed with Chinese language skills and guided by the philosophy that "Experience Creates Wisdom," they are fully prepared.
For anyone with a dream—even something as simple as a fascination with acupuncture or being inspired by medical treatments in historical Chinese dramas—if you want to become a TCM doctor, learn from the discipline's origins, and challenge your own capabilities, the School of Public Health at the University of Phayao is definitely a path worth exploring.