She Died Young — An Eternal Truth About Not Waiting

She Died Young.

Today, I learned that my student passed away.

She wasn’t just a student — she became a friend.

She was six years older than me, and she died young.

At my age, numbers that once made me cringe feel normal now.

So yes — she died young.

My first impression of her was unforgettable. She began with:

“Sawaddeeka Kru Gafaae. I’m Jiab, assistant professor at the Voice Faculty, Chulalongkorn University. I want to study with you — but you can’t tell anyone I’m your student.”

I was stunned. Intrigued.

Her eyes were filled with enthusiasm — honest like a child’s, yet deeply inquisitive. They looked straight into mine, searching.

I knew immediately I would accept her. Even secretly.

She wasn’t just a student. She was a mystery I wanted to open.

She had deep-rooted vocal habits. As I worked to crack the code, we uncovered more than techniques.

Our lessons were intense — tears (hers), laughter (both), persistence. She never quit. Never stopped trying.

Even after I moved from Thailand to the U.S., we stayed connected. She arranged lessons. Invited me to lead masterclasses for her students and faculty whenever I returned. For years.

Her passing made me pause and confront an eternal truth:

WE ALL GET THERE.

A few weeks ago, I thought about reaching out to her. I no longer had her email — buried somewhere in an old Hotmail account I no longer use. I checked Messenger. Our last exchange was before I moved to Las Vegas.

I told myself I’d write to her once I finished what I was doing.

I never did.

This doesn’t end in sadness.

It ends in clarity.

The eternal truth is this: when something matters, go after it now. If you don’t, you may one day die not knowing — simply because you didn’t act.

Tonight, I will make comfort food — Thai cucumber soup — in her honor. For her enthusiasm. For her determination. For the way she went after what she wanted.

Sing with the angels now, Jiab.

You are one of them.

Tonight I’ll be making Thai cucumber soup in her honor and sharing it inside the COOK LIKE A THAI Community.

If you feel called to join us, here’s the door:

Open

BY PRADICHAYA

Bringing out the best from within you: through storytelling, cooking like a true Thai, a sensible math-learning approach, and several other things under the dome.

My Stories In Motion

My Stories in Motion is where I share my Thai roots — the childhood memories, food stories, cultural truths, and moments that shaped my life.

Pradichaya Poonyarit

Seasoned opera singer, educator, podcaster, vlogger, and author. A dreamer with a giant “bowl-of-spaghetti brain,” she sets her heart on helping you realize your dream.

Ralph Schatzki

With 30 years of teaching experience internationally and in the U.S., Ralph helps students who feel lost in math rebuild what they missed — quietly, confidently, and without judgment.

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