Ms. Sakurai, a sophomore student at Tamagawa University, was welcomed as the last lecturer for this year’s Global Career Course during the lunch break. She spoke about her activities and experiences in the “Tamagawa University UNESCO Club” that she belongs to.
The Tamagawa UNESCO Club was founded in 2003 with the objective of “developing an international perspective in students and letting them interact with people from all over the world”. Since then, it has organized and managed events centered on “cross-cultural exchange”, “educational support” and “regional contribution” in order to help promote a peaceful future. In 2012, it was registered with the Japan UNESCO Association of Japan and UNESCO Liaison Committee of Tokyo, and its activities have been highly regarded, for example, winning the Tamagawa University Cultural Association Excellence Group Award for 3 consecutive years.
Currently, Ms. Sakurai is actively engaged as an administrator at the Tamagawa UNESCO Club. However, she said:
“When I was a high school student, I was the type of person who does not talk much with people. I did not have confidence in myself. I had no experience in being a leader in classes and club activities. ”
“Some people choose a club according to their friends’ opinions, but I thought I want to do what I want to do. I wanted to change myself as I couldn’t speak well. I tried to do this by joining this group that allowed me to interact with people.” Ms. Sakurai decided to join this organization soon after entering university.
Her life at university was very busy. Study tours in Gifu and Nepal etc, exchange meetings with students of Evergreen State University in the United States, workshops with organizations from other universities, nationwide summits, etc…. She was very active with many groups.
“People who are actively participating, energetic students from the same generation, seniors who were in charge of planning the UNESCO club… the environment to talk with the various people constantly was completely different from my time in high school. Every day brought something new.” The students were drawn more and more into the story from their senior who was further on in realizing her future as a university student.
Ms. Sakurai explained the greatest influence in her activities until now, which was the “Peace Book Project” that she worked on during her Nepal Study Tour.
It was a project in which students create picture books created based on the theme of “peace and sustainability” to be given to schools and Terakoya in the area hit by the Great Nepal earthquake in 2015 and the sent messages of support in return as well.
Even though it was her first overseas visit, Ms. Sakurai carried out the project with her colleagues while also experiencing some culture shock. When the children who looked at the picture books and began to write back letters, she felt a warm connection between the affected countries seeking to comfort each other.
It was a project in which students create picture books created based on the theme of “peace and sustainability” to be given to schools and Terakoya in the area hit by the Great Nepal earthquake in 2015 and the sent messages of support in return as well.
Even though it was her first overseas visit, Ms. Sakurai carried out the project with her colleagues while also experiencing some culture shock. When the children who looked at the picture books and began to write back letters, she felt a warm connection between the affected countries seeking to comfort each other.
The respect she had for the strength of the people living Nepal and the feeling she got by actually going to the area was conveyed to the students.
Ms. Sakurai gained a lot of experience through her conversations with the Tamagawa UNESCO Club and the local people on her study tour.
“I learned to speak better after entering university and putting myself in that environment. I told myself that I changed from when I was a high school student, who could not speak well in public. I did not understand that back then. People around me were also surprised at my change.” Her confidence was evident despite her past hesitations.
“I am just me though I’ve had a lot of experiences in the years since I left high school. There is something I want to tell you though. When you think about what kind of university you are going to go to and what you should do about your future job, if there is something you can not do now, please do not give up, and please overcome any challenges you come across. Please have a life that lets you do what you want to do without being swept around by others around you.”
The message of breaking out of her shell from Ms. Sakurai moved the students in the audience.
Students gained an insight into the future from Ms. Sakurai ‘s attitude. She had overcome a challenge that she had faced. They learned the importance of courage and taking the first steps into the future.
