AIU shows gratitude to its educators in Wai Kru Day Event

Wai Kru Day in Thailand is a teacher’s appreciation event regularly held at the beginning of an academic year in most schools in Thailand, and AIU is no different, with its Wai Kru celebration held on the 24th August 2023 at the Kiti-Tassanee auditorium. 

This year’s campus event was exciting, as always, featuring speaker Pastor Bayu Kaumpungan, who emphasized that teachers inspire and elevate students toward their best selves. “A teacher’s office should be in a student’s heart and mind,” Pastor Bayu remarks, stating that a teacher’s presence should reside in students’ hearts and minds—a source of comfort, advice, and support.”

Pastor Bayu also aptly reminded everyone that students listen to learn, and teachers also learn. As students engage in their studies, teachers derive valuable insights from their diverse learners, further honing their teaching approaches through these varied experiences.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Pastor Bayu concluded with this verse from Ephesians 2:8-9, telling us to “Keep learning what you haven’t learned while getting ready to unlearn what you have learned.”

All the faculty staff were then gifted beautiful flower arrangements prepared by students, with student representatives from all faculties lining up to present them with the gifts—a simple yet meaningful exchange as a display of gratitude to those who’ve put years of effort into educating the AIU community.

The Student Association had also prepared the traditional Wai Kru flower offering of red Ixora flowers wrapped in leaves, which they encouraged students to gift to teachers of their choice as a more intimate and personal display of their appreciation and recognition for their work. Many new international students witnessed and learned of the unique Thai tradition, including Myat Wuthmon Tun, a TESOL freshman from Myanmar who expressed her admiration for the memorable occasion. 

“I enjoyed the event; I learned about another country’s culture, and it reminded me of the importance of respecting and being grateful for the teachers willing to work hard to guide us to become better people.” Myat Wuthmon says.

By Theresa Zevanya, Communication Major, English International Program