KOBAYASHI Yuzuki

College of International Management

Program

SECOND

Key Information

Program Location/Partner University	Malaysia, Thailand
Year of Participation	August 2022
Program Length	Approx. 2weeks

Reason Why You Decided to Apply

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, it has been difficult for me to participate in activities both in Japan and overseas, and I was not able to try new things in high school. Therefore, I wanted to try an exciting, new experience at APU, so I applied to the SECOND Program. On SECOND, I thought I could go to Southeast Asia, which I’ve wanted to visit for a long time, and also deepen my understanding of others by being exposed to a variety of perspectives and ways of thinking.

How the Program Helped You Grow

I feel that I was able to learn and grow a lot during the SECOND Program. In Malaysia and Thailand, many of the local people could not speak either English or Japanese, so I really felt the language barrier. Also, I faced various problems throughout the program, and I think I acquired problem-solving skills. In my group, we did not communicate enough with each other, and we had clashes in opinion, which once again made me realize how important communication is. After the SECOND program, I am now more proactive about trying new things that interest me.

Message for Students Interested in the Program

If you are not sure if you should join the program either because you are not confident about giving a presentation in your non-native language, or because you are worried about being in an environment where you cannot use either English or Japanese, then I think you should join the SECOND program! Language was the most challenging part of the program for me. However, I was able to overcome the language barrier through my strong desire to communicate and understand. I was also able to understand my own strengths and weaknesses very well. At the same time, I also came to understand what I should do in the future, and I think this has greatly contributed to my personal growth. I believe that the SECOND program will help you acquire many skills that will be useful in the future, so please give it a try!