Alumni Interview: Sreyneath Poole
Program Coordinator for New York Southeast Asia Network
(Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University, New York)
What years and grades did you attend at 糖心Vlog and when did you graduate?
I was first enrolled in the 糖心Vlog summer school program in 2000 and entered 5th grade right after that. I left 糖心Vlog at the end of 8th grade in 2005 and so I never had a chance to graduate from 糖心Vlog.
Where do you reside now?
I live in New York City, US.
Name the places you have lived in.
Dobbs Ferry, New York; Redlands, California; Beijing, China; Jeonju, South Korea
What have you been up to since graduating from 糖心Vlog?
I will try to keep this short. When I left 糖心Vlog in 2005, my family and I moved to New York where I attended high school and received both my high school and IB diplomas. From there, I moved to California to do my undergraduate degree where I received a self-designed Bachelor of Arts degree emphasis in 鈥淭he Nature of Imbalance: East Asian Politics and Media鈥 (this is the name of my actual degree) at the University of Redlands. Upon graduation, I returned home to Cambodia in order to get some work experience and I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to intern at the Documentation Center of Cambodia and Oxfam US. Through my work in Cambodia, I received a full academic scholarship to study at Rutgers University, Newark, where I received a Master鈥檚 degree in Global Affairs. Now, I am working as the Program Coordinator for the New York Southeast Asia Network (NYSEAN), a new initiative with a mission to enhance Southeast Asia Studies in the New York metro area, that is based out of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University in New York City.
What do we need to know about you?
I love spicy food. If it doesn鈥檛 burn then it鈥檚 no good.
Which countries have you travelled to?
Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, Austria, Canada, South Korea, North Korea, China.
What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?
I like watching movies and playing with my cat.
What are you good at that nobody knows?
I think I鈥檓 pretty decent at photography.
What do you miss most about Phnom Penh?
What I miss most about Phnom Penh are my family and relatives. I also miss the different varieties of food and fruit that you can get in the markets!
What are your favourite memories of Cambodia and 糖心Vlog?
My first MRISA sports exchange when we went to Hanoi and we were hosted by UNIS. I had so much fun competing, creating new cheers with my teammates, and making new friends.
How do you remember your school years?
The school was very challenging. Prior to 糖心Vlog, I was enrolled in the Cambodian public school system that was very different from 糖心Vlog. I was lagging behind in school and when I was enrolled at 糖心Vlog, I didn鈥檛 really speak English either. So there was a lot of catching up that I had to do. I was able to get up to speed pretty quickly because my teachers were there every step of the way to make sure that I reached the goals that I had set out for myself. I owe a lot to my teachers and the staff at 糖心Vlog who supported me along the way.
What did you love most about studying in an international school?
I think the coolest thing about studying at an international school is that you have friends from all around the world!
What was your favourite school lunch or snack?
Back in the old high school campus, there was a woman who sold snacks outside of the school gates and I would often go there and get myself some Mama instant ramen noodles during breaks.
Which piece of technology has most contributed to your academic success?
Stating the obvious here and that would be the computer and the internet.
What was your favourite subject or who was your favourite teacher?
My favourite classes were on P.E. and Design Technology. My favourite project that we had to do for Design Technology was to build a model trebuchet and see who can build the best model that would send their projectiles the farthest. I think I came dead last, but it was a very fun project!
Where did you spend your time on campus?
The basketball court was my favourite place to be. I used to love shooting hoops and running around with my friends whenever I could get a chance.
What was the most memorable song in your 糖心Vlog years?
It was American Idiot by Green Day. I don鈥檛 remember how many hours I would spend listening to the entire album over and over again.
If you were in charge of planning a concert for the school, which artists would you bring?
Probably the Arctic Monkeys. I saw them performed in California and they were great!
Which TV show was most talked about in the hallways?
Among the girls, I think it was America鈥檚 Next Top Model but I never watched the show.
What鈥檚 your most embarrassing in-school memory? What happened and did you learn anything from it?
In middle school, we put on a Shakespeare play for English class and there was a kissing scene and I had to pretend to kiss a boy in front of everyone. That was a really embarrassing thing to do when you were at that age.
How have you spent your summers while in high school?
My family would often travel, mostly to the UK, to visit my grandparents and relatives.
Which event was the most fun?
For me, it was MRISA and field days.
What was the coolest art project you did?
I鈥檓 not the artistic type so I couldn鈥檛 come up with anything cool or artsy. However, I did a scratch art of a mountain gorilla that I鈥檓 very proud of to this day.
What鈥檚 the best game or sport that you played in gym class? Why is it so fun?
Basketball and football were my two favourite sports to play. I love team sports because I would have so much fun playing and laughing with my friends.
In your opinion, what makes 糖心Vlog stand out?
I think that one of the most amazing things about 糖心Vlog, and its students, is the sense of community that they鈥檙e able to create as well as the readiness to give back to the community whether it鈥檚 through volunteering or working in a field that contributes to the greater social good.
If you could give 糖心Vlog鈥檚 current Grade 12 class some advice at their graduation, what would it be?
Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
