Be Grateful, Keep Learning, Believe in Yourself, and Make Choices | Motohiko Eto (Class of 2014, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)
2023.07.20
"Creating the future." This is a phrase I've heard often since my time at SFC, and even after graduation, it's a phrase that I still hear naturally, perhaps because of the communities I'm a part of. For the nearly nine years since I graduated, and of course back when I was a student, I thought I understood it, but I feel I'm only now beginning to truly grasp the meaning of this elusive phrase through personal experience.
This July, I left KOKUYO Co., Ltd., where I had worked for over nine years, and joined a company called Actual Inc. I loved KOKUYO, and even now, I can't believe this has happened, but I also feel that my own choices have created this situation.
There are three main reasons for this decision. The first is that it was an invitation from a senior who gave me the opportunity to dive into the world of design when I first started studying at SFC. Thirteen years ago, our paths crossed for just six months on a lab project, and we hadn't been in touch since. However, a small coincidence led to our reunion, which brings us to today. It may sound cliché, but you never know where or how the connections you make with people will intersect. This is something I also feel about my former colleagues at KOKUYO, and I've recently come to deeply appreciate the importance of being grateful for everyone I've worked with and everything I've experienced. I believe it's because I can be grateful that I was able to move on.
The second reason is that I felt my learning curve had been flattening in recent years. This is my own issue, but I felt a certain anxiety and challenge in seeing the amount I was learning decrease while staying in the same environment or being slightly removed from the front lines. I worried that if things continued this way, I would have nothing left to contribute to society. Believing that I must keep learning in order to give back, I chose to make a drastic change in my environment.
The third reason is that I believe I have finally begun to understand what I can do to make society better. The last three or four years have been a period of struggle, where I engaged in various activities both inside and outside the company, thinking about what I can do and how it can lead to improvement. Of course, I expect to struggle even more from now on, and I will continue to learn for that purpose. However, having recognized what I want to do, what I can do, and what I cannot do, and having become aware of my role in society, I believe I made this choice by trusting in myself.
I've written at length about my recent decision, but to return to the theme of the "SFC Spirit," I have recently been able to articulate and embody the idea that in order to "create the future," it is important to be grateful to society and the people you meet, to continue learning what and how you can give back, and to believe in yourself. This is probably something I was taught by many people during my time at SFC, and I believe it is important regardless of one's position, whether a student or a working professional. There is no single right answer, but I would be happy if this could provide some hint for your activities or life.