International Student Voice: K.W.

I was born in South Korea and lived there until I graduated from high school. However, I felt anxious that if I continued my university education in South Korea as well, I might never be able to leave the country for the rest of my life. If I was going to study abroad, I wanted to go to a country more advanced than South Korea, but Europe and the United States were not realistic due to the heavy financial burden. On the other hand, I determined that Japan had a comprehensive scholarship system and many part-time job opportunities, allowing me to study abroad while being economically independent, so I decided to study in Japan.

Among the options, there were two main reasons why I applied to Keio University. First, I was attracted to the curriculum based on the philosophy of "jitsugaku (science)." Second, it was the presence of senior alumni active in various fields. Seeing many Keio alumni active not only in politics and economics but in many other fields, I wanted to become a member of that community.

After entering the university, I continued playing in a tennis club for four years. Having admired the anime "The Prince of Tennis" since I was a child, it was a dream come true. Additionally, in my third year, I challenged myself to run a full marathon with a friend and was able to achieve my goal of finishing the race.

What I feel especially glad about regarding my decision to attend Keio University is that I was able to meet talented friends with diverse ways of thinking. I learned a lot and was inspired by my peers, seniors, and juniors during my time at school, as well as by alumni. I still maintain contact with many of them today and feel proud to be a member of the Mita-kai.

I have loved cars since I was a child and dreamed of working for an automobile company in the future. Along with Germany and the United States, Japan's automobile industry is at the top level in the world. Among the companies, I aimed for Toyota Motor Corporation, the world's largest automaker, and decided to seek employment in Japan. I am currently working at Toyota Motor Corporation, which was my dream, and I find many aspects of Japanese corporate culture, mindsets, and work methods attractive. While there are challenges such as slow decision-making speeds, I feel that the system for carefully educating and training people from scratch to become full-fledged professionals is excellent. Furthermore, the culture that emphasizes teamwork over individual achievements is also very attractive to me.

The learning at Keio that has been particularly useful since entering the workforce is communication skills. In an environment where talented students with diverse values and backgrounds gather, I was able to gain a lot of experience communicating while respecting different cultures and ideas. I still utilize the knowledge and experience I gained there every day.

Also, during my job search and after joining the company, there were many instances where I felt the strength of the Keio brand. A high-achieving image is deeply rooted, and I felt it always worked in my favor in situations where educational background is emphasized. Furthermore, the existence of the Mita-kai is always reassuring. When I was stationed in India for an overseas assignment, the local Mita-kai alumni took care of me, and I once again realized the strength of the Keio network.

I believe Japan is a country where the more you challenge yourself, the more new opportunities are created. Keio University is the best starting point for beginning such challenges, and I feel it is a very privileged environment. Please challenge yourself boldly toward high goals and make your dreams come true.