“One thing Loomis has taught me is that taking risks is fine.”

We recently caught up with sophomore Tonnam Jongcharoensiri, who has found a home away from home in Richmond Hall.

‘We are a close community,” she said. Tonnam talked about the common room atmosphere, from simply joining in on a conversation to playing games. “Ms. Seyboth brings some really fun board games. ... And the dorm snacks — Ms. Solomon’s dip is amazing.” Kate Seyboth and Jen Solomon are teachers, and Jen is the Richmond dorm head.

Tonnam also praised her prefects. “My freshman year they really helped me adjust to school, whether it was being there for support or giving advice,” she said. “They also made dorm life so much fun; one of my favorite memories was during a snow day before Head’s Holiday, when most people had already left. It was just me, my roommate, and two of my prefects in the dorm, and we decided to play board games and hide-and-seek.”

She also mentioned the diversity of students in the dorm and that one dorm resident was her International Student Ambassador (ISA).  “She … really helped me settle in and supported me, which is also what inspired me to apply to be an ISA this year,” Tonnam said.
 

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand

Clubs/activities: Theater actor and tech crew member, tour guide, Pelican Service Organization member, STEM magazine, Confluence staff, Student Council representative, International Student Ambassador, digital marketing club member, photography club member, Model United Nations delegate, social media manager for The Log.

Favorite course or assignment: Her final project as a freshman in her 3D Fabrication and Craft course. The assignment, she said, was making a skateboard out of wood. “Part of the process was molding it into the skateboard shape. I thought it would be really cool to make a wave shape, so I created my own mold. It turned out pretty well.”

Favorite food back home: She mentioned Thai food, of course, but first she talked about Japanese food — curry, barbeque, and hand rolls. For Thai food, she listed fried chicken (known for its marinade and light, crispy crust), sticky rice, and Thom Yum, an aromatic soup.

If you could have a robot do any chore for you, what would it be? “I’d say cleaning the dishes.” She said she sometimes likes to make a simple Thai dish in the dorm. “Afterwards I have to clean everything up, and I’d rather just enjoy the food.”

On her home country: She described Bangkok as a lively city in which it is easy to get around and has a lot of good food from all over the world. “Outside of Bangkok there is great scenery. ... Down south, ocean and beaches. Up north there are mountains. ... A very diverse environment.” 

On her Loomis Chaffee experience so far: “I think I have grown a lot.” She talked about trying new things, taking risks, embracing the experience to the fullest. “One thing Loomis has taught me is that taking risks is fine.” She was not elected to Student Council as a freshman but decided to try again as a sophomore. She said she enjoys being a class representative.

Favorite place on campus: “The balcony behind the theater [facing the Meadows]. Theater is where I found friends freshman year, and we’re really close now. Theater has a place in my heart, especially the balcony. It is quiet, calm. I go outside before every show to get in character, mentally prepare for the show.” She has both acted and been involved in the technical side of theater.

Describe a perfect day with no set responsibilities: “I like doing a lot of things. ... Instead of chilling I’d wake up, eat some home-cooked food from my mom.” Then she would play golf; go rock-climbing, go-karting, or bowling; do karaoke; or go surf skiing or skateboarding. “I know I can’t do it all in one day.” Whatever she did would end with family time: “We like board game nights and movie nights.”