Thai student places Buddha amulets on desk for finals


Thai students can easily turn religious in exam rooms when a footnote’s footnote ends up as one of the biggest questions.

As they desperately search for a divine sign, a sudden gust of wind, a cough in the room, or the rhythm of the teacher snoring are all signals for which choice to pick.

So it’s not particularly surprising when a student turns to Buddha for help on her finals. What surprised netizens, however, was how this particular student brought in a temple’s worth of Buddha amulets to cover her desk during an exam.

They probably radiated so much good fortune that her classmates became luckier even with social distancing.

Here’s how this Thai student turned her biggest challenge to date into internet fame.

More news in Thailand:


Student places Buddha amulets on desk during finals


Thais can be very superstitious. We see lottery numbers in our dreams. Pair that with Thai tests being infamous for their difficulty. Students can look at questions—and answers—only to feel absolutely perplexed.

In her hour of need, one schoolgirl took it a step further when she brought what appears to be a temple’s worth of amulets, necklaces, and beads in the hopes of acing her finals.

Screenshot: @dycf5i0xtnzx

In the short clip, there seems to be barely room for her exam sheet when the teacher brings it over. What she couldn’t put on the table, she wears. And what didn’t fit on the table or her neck remains in her bag.

But surely there must be some rules against bringing in so many items into the exam room.


Teacher assures no religious loopholes were exploited here


Students know that you’re typically not allowed to bring anything beyond the bare essentials into an exam. So you might be wondering if these amulets contain any extra luck if the girl peeked at them discreetly.

Screenshot (Clockwise from Top Left): @MatichonOnline, @MatichonOnline, @MatichonOnline

But in an interview with Matichon, her teacher explains that he checked her Buddha amulets to make sure nothing fishy was going on before allowing her to bring them into the exam room.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is this—it’s not her first time turning her desk into a mini-temple. 


An action-packed sequel


Earlier this year, TSL reported on a girl who brought a bunch of Buddha amulets for her midterm. And here she is again.

Screenshot: @_thanapat44, @dycf5i0xtnzx

In this unexpected plot twist, she seems to have doubled, or even tripled, her stash for her finals. In the picture above, you can see how she upgraded her arsenal for the finals (midterms on the left, finals on the right). Our pious student’s clearly aware of the stakes and we think she shows it in the biggest way possible. 

And just like last time, Thai netizens chimed in as views on TikTok peaked at close to 2 million views.

Her grandiose behavior might raise some eyebrows. But her track record shows her conviction. One that is shared by many Thais, although not with this much flair and style.


Turning to our creature comforts when we’re under pressure


If you’ve seen the world famous Thai movie Bad Genius, you might assume that this is a crafty ploy by a clever girl.

But we trust that it’s all in good faith – pardon the pun.

People will turn to their creature comforts when they are put into high stress situations.

You often see athletes with wacky pre-game rituals. For ordinary folks, we spoil ourselves a little by indulging in cake or cookies.

It is good to remember that we cope with difficult situations in different ways. And as long as it doesn’t end up harming others, there’s nothing inherently bad about turning a desk into a place of worship for a while.

Good on her teacher, however, to find a way to indulge her so that she feels comfortable and can perform her best on the exam.


Cover images adapted from (From left to right): @dycf5i0xtnzx, @dycf5i0xtnzx, @MatichonOnline

Enjoying The Smart Local Thailand? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories like this.

Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.