IKUTA Mei

College of Asia Pacific Studies

Program

Service Learning Program

Key Information

Program Location/Partner University	USA / The University of Texas at Austin
Year of Participation	August 2023
Program Length	Approx. 3 months

Reason Why You Decided to Apply

Since entering APU in the spring of 2020, many overseas programs have been canceled, and I have not been able to live the life at APU that I had envisioned before entering the university. When I was nearing the end of my 3rd year, I heard about the Service Learning program and thought that this program would be stimulating for my career planning in that I could do an internship while making practical use of English in a 3-month. It was quite a courageous decision to apply for it so close to graduation, but I wanted to make it my last big challenge.

How the Program Helped You Grow

I feel that this program has helped me develop a challenging attitude toward everything. I am a shy person, so I decided on the motto during the program, "If I regret it later, I will try anything even if I fail.” then in English class, my English teacher praised my positive attitude and pronunciation, I was able to perform Yosakoi dancing, one of Japan’s traditional dances, by myself and participate in a dance club event in a minority environment with no Asian participants. Through these experiences, I realized that there are people who appreciate me if I express myself openly, and my network has expanded, so I think I have grown the most in terms of my ability to take action.

Message for Students Interested in the Program

I could experience firsthand that even within three months, there are many opportunities for personal growth and understanding of different cultures, and that various new barriers can be opened depending on one's actions. If you have a clear goal for participating in the program, I believe that you will have an intense three months, and I hope that you will experience the same scenery as we did.