What triggered my interest in a long-term exchange program was a language study trip to the UK during the summer vacation of my sophomore year of university. I had had a vague “yearning to go abroad” since high school, so I took the plunge and participated in a three-week program during the summer vacation of my sophomore year of university. The life in the program was very fresh and shocking. It was my first time living abroad, and it took me some time to adjust to the unfamiliar food and living environment, not to mention the fact that I could not hear English at all. However, I made new friends by joining a new community, my host family took me to many sightseeing spots, and I was able to interact with local students, which gave me many unforgettable memories. After returning to Japan, I began to think that I wanted to learn about the culture and history of the country by actually living with local students for long term, and I decided to go on an exchange program because I thought that a long-term study abroad program was essential for this purpose. However, at the time I was a member of the tennis team in my university and wanted to achieve my club activities to the end, so I decided to go on an exchange program in the fall of my senior year. As I mentioned above, the purpose of my exchange program was to “learn firsthand about the lifestyle, culture, and history of the country by living together with local students. I would like to broaden my perspective by learning about the customs and manners of the country and region, which I will not be able to understand until I live there, and also by coming into contact with various ways of thinking through discussions with local students. I hope that by leaving Japan and learning from multiple perspectives from an objective point of view, I will be able to realize anew the good qualities of Japan.

At the beginning of my study abroad program, I felt overwhelmed because everything in my daily life and classes was conducted in English. Even simple things like shopping or submitting homework took a lot of time and energy, although they were easy for me in Japan. For example, I couldn’t keep up with the speed of the discussions in class, so I was unable to contribute at first. However, a local student who took the same class talked to me and helped me understand the content after class. They also worked with me on homework. Thanks to their support, I gradually got back my confidence. Little by little, I started to believe in my English skills and my opinions, and I became more active in class discussions. In seminars, especially, students often asked me, “What do you think?” I realized that I could learn more by expressing my ideas and listening to others, rather than staying silent. I also joined many campus events, which helped me make friends and learn new things. Through these activities, I gained insight into various aspects of society, including local history, Indigenous cultures, and LGBTQ+ issues. These were very different from Japan, and this experience helped me see the world from a broader perspective.

Through this study abroad experience, I was able to grow a lot as a person. Living and studying with people from different races and values helped me realize that failure is not something bad, but a part of taking on challenges. When I was worried, many students and professors told me, “If you think it’s right, you should try it.” Thanks to this supportive atmosphere, I felt that people were not afraid of failure. Many of them acted on their ideas freely, and I also started to believe that there is not only one correct answer—there can be many. Additionally, in a multicultural country, I learned the importance of expressing my opinion clearly with words. In class, students from diverse backgrounds engaged in active discussions, and I realized that sharing my thoughts with courage is the first step in building understanding and trust with others. At the same time, looking at Japan from the outside helped me notice many positive aspects of my own country. In the future, I aim to utilize this experience to become a professional who can thrive in a global environment. While accepting diverse values, I want to express my thoughts with confidence and act with a broad perspective.