[No. 11] Yukinori Takeshita

I feel quite humbled to be writing this after so many distinguished alumni, but I accepted because it is a rare opportunity.

The reason I chose the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University was because I believed I could study a wide variety of academic fields. If you ask teenagers who have just graduated from high school what they want to study or what kind of work they want to do, they probably don't know (at the time, I didn't really know what I wanted to learn, nor did I even think about it). That is precisely why I recommend exposing yourself to a wide range of academic disciplines during your university life. By exploring various fields of study, I believe you will begin to see what areas suit you and in what industries you would like to work. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. From the many academic disciplines, please find your area of expertise and the fields that you find interesting. You probably won't last long in a field that doesn't hold your interest. Furthermore, by engaging with a broad range of studies, you expand your own "toolkit," which may allow you to find hints for solutions from unexpected fields when you hit a wall in your research or work.

While I can't say I was a proud, diligent student during my university days, I was able to meet many friends instead. I believe that meeting many different people and building relationships is also a form of learning for university students. The power of a single person is small, but by joining forces, infinite possibilities can unfold. For those of you who are about to become students, please build the kind of relationships where people will lend you a hand when you're in trouble. I am sure it will become a precious asset.

A major reason I chose the Matoba Lab was Professor Matoba's personality. Thanks to him, I was able to have a very enjoyable student life. He even gave a poor student like me the chance to present at an academic conference, which was a great experience. Also, the Waseda-Keio rivalry (a presentation and discussion session between Waseda's Terasaki Lab and Keio's Matoba Lab) is a good opportunity for students who don't present often. After all, you can't understand something until you've experienced it. This might be slightly different from the saying "seeing is believing," but I believe there is no substitute for experience.

I am currently with the Iron & Steel Business of Kobe Steel, Ltd. I work with the equipment at the steelworks, specifically in electrical and instrumentation-related tasks. Although it's different from the specialized field I studied as a student, I enjoy my work. I have finally gotten used to the atmosphere of the workplace recently. However, when it comes to performing my duties, there is still so much I don't know. I continue to study every day.

Finally, there is something I want to say to those who are aiming to become university students. "Persistence is power!!" By steadily continuing even the smallest things, it will eventually become a part of you. Please see things through to the end without giving up or quitting along the way.