Thoughts on Spring | Noriko Fukuda, Chair of the Nursing Program, Graduate School of Health Management
On March 23, as the cherry blossoms began to bud on the Hiyoshi Campus, the commencement and graduation ceremonies were held. In the Graduate School of Health Management, 31 students from the Master's Program and 6 from the Doctoral Programs were proudly awarded their degrees.
This graduate school, which consists of two majors—Nursing and Public Health, Sport and Health Sciences—and four degree programs, attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds. While many come from health, medical, and welfare fields, others come from sports, management, consulting, finance, and economics. Each student's commitment to the "research question" they discovered through their own journey becomes a powerful driving force for their research, culminating in a thesis and leading to their graduation day. Listening to the valedictory speeches from the student representatives, I find that each has a "unique story" filled with their determination upon enrollment, their learning at the graduate school, and their dreams and expectations for the future. Every year, I listen to their speeches with great interest.
I believe the significance of studying at a graduate school lies not only in coursework and research activities but also in building the "connections" that expand through interactions with faculty and peers. Students from diverse backgrounds gather to engage in passionate discussions and learn from one another, centered on "life" and "health" while respecting each other's expertise. This environment is precisely the charm and strength of this graduate school. Beyond the individual effort of conducting research and writing a thesis, students face the questions of "Who am I?" and "What is my identity?" through interaction with peers, reconstructing their own identities. They then consider how they can contribute to society as educated individuals and envision their own careers. Feeling the infinite potential in them as they receive their degrees, and with a sense of both envy and great expectation, I have welcomed the cherry blossom season once again this year.
Now, the new semester is about to begin, but for me, this spring feels a bit different. This is because a professor who has been my mentor and supervisor for many years is leaving Keio University. Of course, I fully intend to continue receiving their guidance and support in the future, but I feel the loneliness of being "left behind" and the heavy responsibility of receiving the baton. This is the first time I have welcomed spring with such feelings, and I am bewildered by my own emotions. Looking forward to meeting students with new aspirations, I want to straighten my posture and wait for that day.