Danupon Drake

My name is Danupon Drake, I was born in the year 2005 and I’m developing this website as my portfolio. I had 12 years of education from Thailand, and now I’m continuing my life in the United States. Here I try to showcase some of my awards, achievements, and educational hobbies.

My College Adventures to November 2023

I became introduced to online college courses while in high school. But my parents wanted me to attend a campus-based program to learn about being independent. So, I applied and got accepted to several colleges, but decided on the University of North Carolina at Pembroke because they had a great Chemistry Department. My Midterm Exam scores were all “A”s [Click on picture to make bigger]:

I liked UNCP, but I soon tired of college life and longed for a military career.

And so, I dropped out and enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard with my goals to complete Army Basic Combat Training, and to eventually become and Officer in one of the armed services branches: Army, Air Force, or Space Force. After completing Basic Training, I will receive further training as “Horizontal Engineer” at Fort Leonard, Missouri.

Here is me shipping out January 17, 2024 to Fort Jackson, South Carolina:

High School Graduation June 8, 2023

Outstanding J.R.O.T.C. Medal
Presented by the
National Society of the Sons of the Revolution

The National Sojourners Medal:

Received on May 13, 2022 at New Hanover High School, Wilmington NC.

JROTC or Junior Reserve Officer Training Core is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States. Students who participate in JROTC take classes that focus on study skills, history, citizenship, military drills, and physical fitness, among many other things, and are taught by ex-military instructors. The main goal of JROTC is to make better citizens.

The National Sojourners Award consists of a ribbon with medal pendant, is made annually to an outstanding cadet at each school who contributed the most to encourage and demonstrate Americanism within the Corps of Cadets and on the campus.

National Sojourners Official Website: https://nationalsojourners.org

Additional Awards From Thailand:

These awards were earned while I was in Thailand. Click Here to view them in detail.

My Early Years In Thailand:

Dan Hunting Insects in Loei, Thailand 2014

Aside from the awards I’ve received, I also started collecting insects in the North Eastern Part of Thailand. That part of Thailand was very rural and therefore, there were many exotic insects such as this South East Asian Atlas Moth:

I also studied their anatomy, natural habitat, how to name them, how rare each of them are, and find the best ways to preserve them for display.

My final insect collection.

I named and identify them by looking at their patterns and knowing that their natural habitat is in South East Asia.

Chemistry Adventures:

When I reached age 11-13 in Thailand, I began my own chemistry experiments. I had my own lab and I bought chemicals and did my own experiments for fun and curiosity. Sometimes I could not find a chemical, so I had to buy foundation chemicals to create reactions to generate the chemicals I wanted. Aside from chemistry, I also tried experiments in other topics such as biology and electricity.

Click on Any Picture To Make Bigger:

Me and My Microscope 2013

My Chemicals

Here some examples of the chemical experiments I’ve conducted. The 2 images below are images of me making Copper Carbonate by combining basic chemicals. Click here for the full post.

The golden solution below is made by combining two colorless solutions, potassium iodide solution and Lead nitrate solution. Click here for the full post.