Me, second from the left.
Japan, a land full of mystery and wonder. It was a place I had always dreamed about visiting for as long as I can remember. For years I saved up money and kept telling myself, “Next year will definitely be the year I go,” but I always ended up putting it off.
Then one day, while walking through the halls of Old Main, I saw a random poster promoting a study abroad program in Japan. Once I scanned the QR code without thinking too much about it, and honestly, the rest was history.
I wanted to join the program because it was something completely outside my comfort zone. I had always wanted to see another country’s culture and experience it firsthand. One of the things I looked forward to the most was finding out whether the rumors were true, how orderly and clean Japan was and how there were barely any trash cans anywhere.
The rumors were definitely true. It’s a wonderful place to be. But beyond that, I was seriously interested in how different the cities and food would be compared to the United States. I found everything to be very different, and honestly, very enjoyable.
Looking back at the things I did while I was there, I can say that the most interesting part of the itinerary was seeing all the temples and shrines. There were so many from small buildings hidden between apartments and convenience stores to huge mountainside temples. The architecture and detail in each one were incredible, and I was amazed at how well maintained they all were. As for something I personally enjoyed the most, it’s hard to pick from the many things I did, but it would have to be climbing to the peak of Mount Misen. Even though getting back down was an ordeal, it was still one of the most memorable things I did on the entire trip.
While venturing through Japan, I noticed something unexpected happening: I started gaining confidence in creating content, editing, photography and writing, things I had always struggled with.
In just two demanding weeks, the program pushed me to perform and try new things I never imagined myself doing, like recording a voice‑over for a social media clip or asking others to be involved in my projects. When I look at my personal growth, I can honestly say I changed a lot in a short amount of time. As someone who is usually quiet and keeps to themselves, I felt myself becoming more social, more open and more willing to meet new people. Being in Japan made me want to travel more and experience more of the world. It gave me this feeling of wanting more out of life instead of repeating the same routine day after day.
When I think about how this program affected me, I realize it completely changed my perspective on what I want to do with my life. Before going to Japan, I imagined myself settling into a career and staying in one place, content with a simple routine for the rest of my days.
But now, after experiencing another country and seeing how much the world has to offer, I want something different. I want to travel more, learn more about myself and see what else is out there. I want a career that pushes me every day to think in new and creative ways, something that challenges me instead of keeping me in the same pattern.
This trip made me realize that I don’t just want stability. I want growth, exploration and a life that keeps expanding.
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