Student Ambassador Interview Series: This is part of VERSO International School in Bangkok series of interviews with our Ambassador scholarship recipients, awarded to exceptional high school learners who have the drive and determination to pursue their dreams and make a positive difference. We hope you find their stories as inspiring as we do! Click here to read other interviews with our Student Ambassadors.

Meet Solo Meltzer, our G9 Student Ambassador who shares how VERSO has encouraged him to explore new possibilities and pursue his passions in a fun and engaging way. He describes VERSO as inspiring and supportive, and credits the Learning Designers for helping him learn and grow. Find out what being future ready means to him and who his superhero is !

What do you like about the learning and teaching here?

I find the learning and teaching at VERSO International School in Bangkok to be very engaging. Throughout my time here, starting from the Middle Loop and now as a current Upper Loop student, I've noticed significant growth in myself and discovered my passions, and I attribute this to the guidance and support of the Learning Designers.

I feel that I am doing a lot more now than I used to and I'm trying out many new experiences such as martial arts like capoeira and Krav Maga and I also joined the badminton team. I am excited to expand my horizons in sports and the arts next school year and take  sculpting, guitar, and singing classes. Overall, VERSO provides a fun and inspiring learning environment that allows students to explore their interests and grow as individuals.

Solo represented VERSO at the GBAC U18 badminton tournament held at SP International Program School

Solo and his classmates during one of the Learning Labs at VERSO international school in Bangkok, which follows the US curriculum

How has VERSO International School in Bangkok brought out the best in you and supported your passion and interests?

VERSO has been an incredible support system for me in pursuing my interests and passions. They encourage curiosity and provide various opportunities for students to explore new possibilities. From open houses to personal endeavors, VERSO has always been there for me when I needed to learn something and the Learning Designers have always supported me with what I want to do. Thanks to Miss Bua, I even had the chance to participate in a Doctor Follows Week program in Chiang Mai, which allowed me to follow doctors and medical professionals in hospitals and clinics to learn more about the medical field. I feel that VERSO has brought out the best in me by providing an environment that inspires me to pursue my passions and explore new opportunities.

   Solo participated at the Doctor Follows Week program in Chiang Mai to learn more about the medical field

What three words would you use to describe VERSO?

Engaging, Inspiring, and Fun!  The Learning Designers here are very engaging and inspiring and always trying to help students. The community is very supportive, and there's a constant sense of inspiration from one another. It’s fun because that is what learning at VERSO feels like and you are constantly learning new things in a very fun way which sets it apart from other schools.

"If I had a superpower, I would like to be able to influence people in a certain way because the more positive influence you have, the more you can do and the more changes you can bring about."

-SOLO

What does the Ambassador Scholarship mean to you?

The Ambassador Scholarship holds significant meaning for me, as it is an opportunity to share my experiences and give honest feedback to anyone interested in learning more about VERSO. As an Ambassador, I feel that it is my duty to talk to parents or students who come to our campus and share my experiences and insights about the school. The scholarship at this international high school Bangkok represents an opportunity to be an advocate for VERSO and share the incredible experiences I've had here with others.

Solo shares his learning experiences at VERSO, an American international school, to a parent during one of our Open Houses

What’s your favorite place at VERSO, an American international school?

The Upper loop foyer. It’s like a living room and I really like the space and atmosphere. I love that there's a table tennis and gaming area, which provides a relaxing space to unwind and connect with friends.

"To me, being future ready means to be prepared -  so understanding different skills, like coding and software development is going to be more important and can better prepare you for the future."

-SOLO

What project have you been most proud of?

I am very proud of the solar project that I worked on last year. It involved extensive research and it allowed me to learn a lot about the science behind the solar panels as well as how they function. Through this project, I realized that the process of gathering resources to make solar panels is quite costly, and that it might not be the best choice to go forward with! Maybe in the future we might be able to find a cheaper alternative.

I'm also quite proud of what I'm currently working on now which is the Wonder of Wandering Learning Lab where together with my classmates, we are incorporating virtual and augmented reality into a tour, which has been an engaging and exciting project to work on.

Solo with one of his favorite projects on solar energy that he worked on last year

Solo and his classmates visited many areas in Bangrak for the "Wonder of Wandering" Learning Lab, incorporating   VR and AR  to create an online travel tour

You recently collaborated with Source of Success to create a series of videos on YouTube. Can you tell us more?

Source of Success is a program initiated by my friend Hilight, where we interview celebrities and influencers to share their inspiring stories for the younger generations. The program aims to raise awareness about prevalent social and global issues and encourages others to recognize the interconnectedness between issues at home and abroad. I collaborated with Source of Success to create a series of videos on YouTube where we featured guests like Anchilee Scott-Kemmis, former Miss Universe Thailand 2021 and the founder of the Real Size Beauty campaign; Lukkade Metinee, Thailand's famous actress, model, TV presenter, beauty queen, and founder of Muse by Metinee; and Cindy Sirinya Bishop, actress, actor, model, advocate, mom, and the founder of the Don’t Tell Me How To Dress viral social media campaign against gender-based violence and sexual harassment.

Solo and friends interview former Miss Universe Thailand 2021 Anchilee Scott-Kemmis for the Source of Success program, which features inspiring stories from influencers and celebrities

Is there a Learning Designer here who you look up to as a source of inspiration?

Yes, Mr. Chad Walsh is someone I look up to a lot. During my time at Middle Loop, whenever I had problems, I would speak with him and he was always there for me, giving me all the support I needed. We had deep conversations and connected on many levels.

What is one thing the people will be surprised to learn about you?

I love skating, especially drift skating.

Do you have a superhero?

Yes - Spider-Man!   I admire how he rises to the challenge and becomes a hero despite facing personal struggles. I feel that the story is quite engaging in the sense that many people can relate to that. He’s an ordinary high school student who doesn't know too much. He's not really a social guy, but he's quite smart and then gets bitten by a spider and becomes a superhero. Sometimes I wonder what would happen to me if I got bit by a spider!

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

If I had a superpower, I would like to be able to influence people in a certain way because the more positive influence you have, the more you can do and the more changes you can bring about.

If you could make a rule for everyone to follow, what would that be?

If I could make one rule for everyone to follow, it would be to treat others with respect. For example, you can’t just call someone out just because you want to do that, but you have to have a reason behind this. I think people should be mindful of their surroundings and be aware of what their influence can have on other people. How one presents oneself and comes across can mean a lot to some people. I think that that's a good rule and a good mindset to have,

What does “inspiring everyone to be future-ready” mean to you?

To me, being future ready means to be prepared -  so understanding different skills, like coding and software development is going to be more important and can better prepare you for the future. One should also have an open mind and be prepared for what can happen. For example, some jobs might not exist in the future so I think we should really focus and think about what we want to do in the next few years, who we want to influence, and what target audience we want to aim for when we are presenting ourselves.

Have you set yourself any goals?

Yes, that has been an overarching thing for me - trying to find what I truly want. But I think at this age, my goal is just to have a good time, to learn, and do as much as possible. I want to try and do more now so that I can be better prepared for tomorrow. My advice to everyone would be to try everything. 

What book are you currently reading now?

I'm currently reading How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, a popular self-help book, about communicating with people and really getting to know one another on a more business level, which I find interesting.

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

I listen to a lot of different genres. I like classical music and also R&B and pop. I play the guitar and have been wanting to learn the keyboard for a while, but am taking it one step at a time.

Where do you see yourself beyond VERSO?

I hope I'll be in college by then and if I were to choose a career, it will probably be business because I’m very interested in that area and in becoming an entrepreneur, which I find very inspiring. However, I’ll take it step by step. As I mentioned earlier, I am always looking at broadening my horizon, so I don't know exactly what I want to do yet. It's just an idea.

To follow Solo and his interviews on Source of Success, click here.