This is the story of ‘Mac’ Tontrakul Wongsamarn, 18, and ‘Tae’ Supawit Kruakaew, 21, two young individuals from Ban Ta Phet, Na Nuan Subdistrict, Sanom District, Surin Province, who ended their formal schooling at Grade 9. Together, they embarked on a journey as YouTubers, launching their channel, TW Manga & Otaku, where they create manga voiceover video content. In less than a year, their channel gained over 50,000 subscribers and generated an average monthly income of 6,000–7,000 baht. One of their videos even reached 550,000 views.

We met Tae and Mac again when they traveled to Bangkok to participate in the event “Insights into Personal Growth and Flexible Learning to Suit Individual Lifestyles” at the launch of the “Mobile School: If you can’t attend school, let the school come to you.” project, held in the Khlong Toei community. They updated their story, sharing that they are still running their channel, continuing to improve themselves, and maintaining their everyday routines, with their subscriber base now at 60,000. Tae said, “We’re still going steady.” 

At today’s meeting, Tae and Mac not only shared their experiences with friends on stage but also proudly displayed their student cards, indicating their recent enrollment in Mobile School. They are hopeful that this new opportunity will finally open the door to the educational qualifications they have long desired.

When asked about the obstacles they faced previously, Mac explained, “I couldn’t continue my education because our community didn’t offer courses related to my interests. Additionally, the cost was a major factor—if I wanted to study, I would have to leave home, which involves expenses for travel, living, tuition, and more.” Given these significant costs, many students end up abandoning their educational pursuits.

Tae added that the ‘environment’ was the most critical factor. The place where they lived lacked support, including facilities, relevant professionals, and a community of peers with similar interests.

“When there are no role models or people with similar interests nearby, it’s hard to see where our efforts might lead. At our age, friends often play a significant role in our decisions. Some people might follow their friends’ interests just to fit in without discovering what they truly like. I feel fortunate to have found Mac, but as I mentioned, with just the two of us, there’s a limit to how far we can go. That’s why we’re pursuing higher education.”

This reflects their outlook on the future, so we asked them to explain how being limited to a Grade 9 education while growing older has affected them.

“In terms of acquiring knowledge, we can find information online or gradually develop skills through practice. However, without formal qualifications or, more importantly, without attending school, we lack support from teachers, peers, institutions, or communities with similar careers, which makes it very challenging.”

“Even with hard work, having only a Grade 9 diploma means you can’t use your skills and knowledge to apply for most jobs. Even general positions typically require at least a Grade 12 diploma.” Mac explained.

“For voice acting, I practice daily and create videos each month. The more I practice, the better my skills become. However, looking ahead is difficult because there’s no one to guide us on which direction to take next. It’s hard to find the right door to move forward,” Tae noted.

Reflecting on our previous meeting, we asked Tae and Mac what they thought would help them progress further. Mac mentioned he wished for a ‘curriculum’ that could convert knowledge and experience into credits and provide formal qualifications to make continuing education a viable option. Tae expressed a desire to work while studying, believing that with the opportunity, he could eventually earn a qualification that would serve as a stepping stone to a career in voice acting.

Now that the situation has changed, we asked how, as ‘new students’ of Mobile School, they view this path. What do they think it will lead to, and how might their lives change once they achieve a Grade 12 diploma?

As usual, Mac responded first with a firm and confident tone, saying, “I still want to pursue Digital Art. Besides voice acting, I enjoy behind-the-scenes work like editing and graphic design. Now that I’ve enrolled, I’m eagerly waiting for the day I get my diploma. I believe it will definitely open up new paths for me. I think a school that allows learning from anywhere and lets you design learning units based on your interests or what you’re already doing… I think it’s like we’ve found a door that opens to wherever we want to go.” Mac paused before letting his thoughts flow into words.

“…Even though before, I had sometimes lost hope of continuing my education or staying involved in what I love.”

As for Tae, he mentioned that although he doesn’t know much about Mobile School yet, he believes that when an opportunity knocks, accepting it will always be beneficial.

“As far as I know, this school will provide a diploma, which is what I want the most. It wasn’t a difficult decision because I still want to continue my education and see how far I can go. I’ve already planned to work and save money while attending the Mobile School program. After graduating, I aim to continue at university, and I’ll keep working on the YouTube channel with Mac,” he said.

This is another chapter in the lives of ‘Tae & Mac,’ the youth from Ban Ta Phet, Surin Province, who are new students joining Mobile School. They are about to begin lessons tailored to their skills and interests within an education system that is ‘flexible,’ ‘offers choices,’ and ‘meets life’s needs.’

The goal is to ensure that every Thai youth can stay on their educational path, regardless of diversity and wherever they are in this country.