Student Blog

5 min read

“I need to start something new or I’ll be in trouble!”
This was the thought running through the mind of Mao Umemoto (4^th year, College of Asia Pacific Studies; 3rd year at the time of the interview). After her long-held dream of going on exchange fell through, she began to feel restless. Many of her friends were heading abroad, and she found herself wondering, “Everyone around me is growing and trying new things, but what am I doing? Is it okay to stay where I am? What should I do? I honestly have no idea!”
The turning point for her came when an NPO representative visited her class as a guest speaker. Their talk inspired her, and she decided to take the leap into an internship. We spoke to Mao about what she learned through this experience.

What did you study and participate in at APU?

I major in Environment and Development Studies in the College of Asia Pacific Studies. Outside the classroom, I spent a year and a half working as an RA in the international dormitory, and I’ve also been active in ASA (APU Student Ambassadors) as well as a student organization supporting education in developing countries since my first year. In addition, I served as a TA once for both SSW (the required first-year workshop) and the FIRST Program (a short-term overseas study program).

What led you to apply for the internship?

After the lecture, I approached the guest speaker from Accept International to ask them if they could possibly share their slides with me. They handed me their business card, so I emailed them—not only to request the slides, but also to ask whether they happened to be accepting interns. After going through the interview process, I became part of the team, and I am currently working remotely.

What are your main responsibilities as an intern?

I work in the donations division. My primary task is researching companies that may be potential partners and sharing that information with the team. From there, we discuss what a collaboration might look like and how to approach each company.
I’ve also handled some irregular tasks, such as creating a fundraising page for Yahoo! Net Donation, where people can use PayPay to make donations starting from as little as one yen.

What has been challenging or thought-provoking?

Reading companies’ management policy reports can be tough at times. But because each company has its own philosophy and values, this has also been a great opportunity to learn about different industries more broadly.
What struck me the most is how much confidential information is involved in the work. At APU, people are generally very open— they’ll say “Ask me anything!” or “I’m happy to explain!”—so the environment feels very different. It constantly reminds me of the responsibility that comes with working for an organization, and it keeps me grounded.

What did you enjoy or feel rewarded by? What skills have you gained?

—Sense of Reward—
Right now, I feel the most rewarded when I see the large number of donations coming through the Yahoo! Net Donation page I helped create. Knowing that people read that page, feel inspired, and choose to donate—ultimately helping others—makes me incredibly happy. In the future, I hope to contribute more through my company research as well.

—Skills—
I’ve developed a stronger ability to analyze companies. By reading integrated reports and sustainability reports, I’ve started to understand, even though I’m still learning, what companies prioritize and how different industries are shifting. I’ve become more aware of the differences between companies. As a result, I now find corporate research for my own job hunting enjoyable rather than burdensome.

—Changes in Perspective—
My understanding of NPOs and NGOs has changed dramatically. I used to have a very shallow view, something like “they are organizations that help society without making a profit.” Now I have a much clearer understanding of their role, value, and influence in society. I feel that my entire perspective on the world has broadened because of this experience.

Do you have any messages for the underclassmen or thoughts on internships?

This may sound contradictory, but I don’t think you need to force yourself to do a long-term internship. Many require in-person work and long hours, which can affect your schedule and future plans. If you don’t have a clear purpose, there’s no need to push yourself even if some people might say, “But you’re going to do an internship, right?”
In my case, I didn’t start because I specifically wanted to intern. I simply wanted some stimulation and a new challenge. The opportunity that appeared in front of me happened to be an internship.
So, if something catches your eye or feels right intuitively, it’s totally okay to jump in without overthinking. Don’t treat internships as something intimidating. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing one out of obligation or because that’s what everyone else is doing.
Whatever your motivation may be, if you do take on a new challenge, I think it’s meaningful to reflect on what inspires you and what you are learning both before and after starting.
No matter how big or small the task, I truly respect and support anyone who chooses to take a step forward. Let’s do our best together!

Post-Interview Reflections

Before speaking with Mao, I imagined she must be extremely proactive to take on a long-term internship at an NPO. But what I found was that everything began with one small step—simply asking a question after class. I can imagine she listened to the guest lecture not passively, but by actively thinking how she could make a contribution.
Many APU students are looking for something new to challenge themselves with, and APU is full of opportunities. The first step may simply be to notice the chances around you and take that first small step forward.

Natsuki Aoki

Hello! I'm Natsuki, an APS 4th year majoring in International Relations. I hope to inspire you all by sharing my interesting experiences, new discoveries, and encounters at APU. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

(Graduated in March 2026)