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I have studied Japanese since my junior year of high school and continued throughout my four years at �պ�����. Although I came to �պ����� intending to mainly study the natural sciences, my experience with the Japanese department has been more rewarding than I could have possibly imagined. I planned to have Japanese as a minor for my neuroscience major, but I realized in my junior year that study abroad was once again possible, and so was completing a Japanese double major. In my junior spring, I had the opportunity to study abroad at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, and this experience truly changed my life. I made lifelong friends, took the trip to Japan that I had longed for, and learned a lot. I studied International Asian Politics, which was an enlightening experience since it is so far outside my usual field of study. I was even featured on AGU’s website during my study abroad!

I experienced more culture shock coming back to the States than when I left, and I was missing Japan constantly. I entered the �պ����� study abroad photo contest in the “Food” category and won with a photo I took in Tsuruhashi, Osaka (Osaka’s Koreatown!). During senior year, one of my study-abroad friends told me about a Japanese-English career fair held in Boston, and I decided to attend. At the fair, I found a company that researches biomedical drugs and technology for various pathologies and managed to secure a position as a researcher! I never expected to find a position that would combine my neuroscience and Japanese disciplines. I recently graduated, having made many close friends in the Japanese program at �պ�����, and I am extremely grateful for the senseigata (teachers/professors) who have shaped my Japanese learning experience. I have a lot of nervous anticipation, but I will be starting my career in Kagoshima, Japan.