Messages from current students and graduates
MESSAGE FROM GRADUATES ?
Graduate Interview: Miyu Tanaka
Graduated from Tamagawa Gakuen High School, Tokyo
Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Ltd.
-What was your motivation or reason for choosing to study at GSC?
I was attracted by the comprehensive English education and the wide range of curriculum. I have been involved in musicals since junior high school, and I have had many opportunities to face issues of race and poverty when researching the historical background of each play, and I have had a deep interest in international issues. Therefore, I was attracted to the course content of "Multicultural Coexistence Theory," which teaches understanding of cultural and social diversity. In addition, I wanted to become an interpreter at the time, so I applied because I thought that studying "Journalism Theory" at the same time as studying English would be useful for my job as an interpreter, which involves converting languages to convey information.
-I would like to ask you about your undergraduate study abroad, which is the main pillar of your undergraduate studies. Please tell us why you chose that study abroad destination. Also, what did you want to learn and acquire through your study abroad? Please also tell us about the areas in which you feel you have grown.
Study abroad location: Thammasat University (Thailand)
I felt that Thammasat University in Thailand was the best place to deepen intercultural understanding when comparing all the programs, and I felt that it was fate because I heard that my grandfather studied at the same university as a student. During my study abroad, I learned about Thailand's social issues, culture, and history from various angles in a class called "Society and Culture of Thailand." In addition, I was able to exchange opinions and discuss with international students from other countries, which was a very meaningful class. I also looked at and tried a wide variety of things. For example, backpacking alone was my first experience, so I had some anxiety and accidents, but it was many times more fun, and I was able to experience the kindness of people, which became a touching memory for me. Through studying abroad, I was able to acquire flexibility by challenging myself to do things I had never experienced before, and the ability to withstand adversity when placed in a difficult situation.
Please tell us about the seminar (exercise). Please tell us your research theme or field (title of your graduation thesis), what you learned from researching that theme, and what you thought was good about it.
In Professor Kikuchi Naoyo's seminar, I researched "Dilution of religious food taboos in a multicultural society - A case study of ginjae". Food taboos are one of the rules that play an important role in religion, but in recent years, with the spread of multiculturalism and globalization, these rules have become more familiar and diversified in modern society, but they have also become stronger along with pluralism, and the number of secularists has increased, which has led to the dilution of food taboos becoming a problem. The main factor is that interest in religion changes due to the era and environment in which one grew up, and I have come to the conclusion that it is this environment that has become a multicultural society that has changed the concept of religion itself throughout the world. During my study abroad, I became interested in Thai Buddhist culture in a class called "Buddhism in Thailand," which became the core of my graduation thesis, so I am glad that I was able to make use of what I learned there.
-I'd like to ask you about your job hunting. Please tell us about the company you are looking for work at and the reason, motivation, and reason why you wanted to work in that position. Also, please tell us about your dreams, aspirations, and outlook for the future.
I was looking for a job that would allow me to hone my human skills while gaining something that cannot be exchanged for money. What made me decide to join the company was that I was attracted to the sincerity with which they treated me as a person during the interview, and I strongly felt that I wanted to work with such warm-hearted people. In the future, I believe that I will need to be sensitive to the subtleties of people's hearts as I handle an uncertain and intangible product such as trust. In this regard, I would like to utilize my rich interpersonal sensitivity, which is one of my strengths, and work while valuing the ability to understand and imagine the feelings of customers.
-Looking back on your four years of learning at GSC and your own growth, please write about the areas in which you felt (or were able to) grow during your first through fourth years and why.
▼ First year
I joined the futsal club and met important friends. I believe I was able to have a fulfilling university life thanks to my friends who always supported me and entertained me.
▼2nd year
This was the year in which I was able to deepen my knowledge the most in terms of my studies. I especially felt that I had improved my language skills while studying abroad. It was hard to keep up with the highly challenging classes, but by repeatedly preparing and reviewing for each class, my English skills improved even further. I also came back with a good command of Thai, albeit at a conversational level.
▼Third year
While I was a member of Kikuchi's seminar group and studying "Media Theory," I also worked as a reporter for Aoyama Gakuin University 's official video site (Aogaku TV), which launched in September 2018. I felt that I had grown as a person by gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience.
▼ 4th year
After successfully completing my job search and enjoying the rest of my student life, many undergraduate students went on trips to Thailand and Malaysia where they had studied abroad as a way to return home, and I was one of them. Although I didn't have enough time to reminisce, it was a meaningful trip that allowed me to look back on an important part of my student life.