Soknorakodom Ly (Academic Year 2024-2025) – fun, scary, confusing(lost)
Favorite Quote: ” life is not about avoiding consequences but rather evaluating the action.”
An interesting fact about Soknorakodom is that he considers himself “an average, extremely ordinary student” who has simply fought hard to survive every exam. His favorite subject was Physics because the mysteries of the universe fuel his curiosity and push him to dig deeper for answers. The most challenging subject for him has always been Khmer—no matter how hard he tried, good grades never seemed to come. In fact, he even took a gap year in Grade 3 because of it! Still, he believes both Math and Khmer are essential: math builds logic for life, and Khmer is part of his identity as a Cambodian, something he wouldn’t want to escape even if he could.
Outside of academics, Soknorakodom kept himself busy with many extracurriculars—sometimes as an excuse to avoid homework, but still productive. He studied Southeast Asian languages to connect with his cultural roots, enjoyed cooking, and explored bodybuilding (even while navigating the challenges of his ectomorph body type, which requires both exercise and a carefully managed diet). Music also became an important part of his life, as he believes it speaks directly to the soul. Though procrastination is unavoidable, he even shaped his social media algorithms to focus on topics like economics, psychology, science, and philosophy—so at least “slacking off” still felt useful.
His favorite memory at AUPPHS-FA was the field trip—not just because of the destination, but because of the people he got to share the experience with.
After graduation, Soknorakodom doesn’t have a set plan, but he imagines stepping out of his comfort zone, moving out, and experiencing life in all its beauty and challenges.
His advice to juniors at AUPPHS-FA: “You got like one year left, it would’ve been very embarrassing if you couldn’t make the most of it, common now enjoy the moment while it still lasts.”