“I’ve enjoyed math since I was a kid, but the math classes at Loomis have shifted my perspective on math into something more than just numbers, but rather patterns that underlie our world.”

We recently caught up with senior Cookie Danchaivijitr, whose interests are wide and varied. She is the president of multiple clubs and organizations and says that, of all she does, math and photography top the list.

“I’ve enjoyed math since I was a kid, but the math classes at Loomis have shifted my perspective on math into something more than just numbers, but rather patterns that underlie our world,” Cookie said. She said that working in the Quantitative Resource Center as a tutor “has also extended my passion in math to teaching others about math, so I’m very grateful to have been part of this program.”

When she was awarded a Founders Prize as a junior, Associate Head of School Webb Trenchard said, “A true mathematician, she began her Loomis career by acing College-Level Calculus BC as a ninth grader and has taken on the most rigorous math courses available since.”

Cookie has become increasingly interested in photography over the past year or two. “I think photography is really similar to math as we’re trying to find patterns and compositions that are appealing,” she said. “So I’m interested in seeing different patterns and phenomena that happen around us.”

Her passion for photography played into her description of an ideal day off from school, which she said would be “going on a random walk in nature or the city taking different photos and ending the day star-gazing.” 
 

Year: Senior

Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand

Activities/awards: Founders Prize. Junior art, mathematics, and science awards. Resident assistant in Howe Hall. A president of PRISM and the Pan Asian Student Alliance. President of the Photography and Math clubs. Student Council representative. Tour guide. International Student Ambassador. Varsity squash player.

On her many interests and awards: She said she has followed her passions, has a curiosity to continue to learn, and hopes to inspire others.

A homework assignment or course that stands out: “Two come to mind. World History my freshman year shaped how I view history, not just memorization but analytical skills. And Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore. That changed the way I see math and really pushed me to continue to learn more about math.”

Describe yourself as a freshman and now: “Over the past three-plus years I have learned to take in different perspectives and be more open-minded."

Favorite season: In Thailand, she said, it seems to either be rainy or hot all year or, as she described it with a laugh, “Hot, very hot, and very, very hot ... If I think about the seasons here, I’d say spring. Spring is a refresh. Everything is starting to bloom again. Restarting.”

Favorite foods back home: Minced pork basil fried rice and her grandmother's tomato-based macaroni dish.

If you could have a robot do a daily or weekly chore for you, what would it be? “Fold laundry. I like doing laundry; I just don’t like folding it.”

If you could live in the past or present what would you choose? “The past. The book I read for Book Chats, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, the story of the woman who traveled to the future was very sad. I think I could learn more by going to the past. ... I think you’d be able to observe more rather than being frantic about your own life in the future. I think if I traveled to the future, I’d be panicked and scared about what would happen.”

On what she misses about home: “Just sitting in the living room with my grandparents and cousins and aunt and uncles. ... We used to go to our grandma’s house every Saturday and chill with each other’s presence, play games, go swimming, or go on a walk together. So I miss being together with my family.” She said she also misses all the food options. “Thailand is a hub for all different types of food, not just Thai food.”