In my second semester of junior year, I was sitting thinking about my next step. Senior year was slowly approaching, and I felt like I needed to do something big for my college life. Feeling at a point where I knew that my life would slowly be more focused on my career, I wanted to find a way to combine my two loves together: travel and media.
That’s when I was sitting in Professor Sara Shields’ website design class, and she said she had a presentation to share. Little did I know that that presentation would allow me to combine traveling with media. It was then that I learned about the SJMC study abroad program to Japan.
Ever since I was a child, Japan had been a dream of mine, and a voice in me was telling me I had to do it. I was incredibly excited for the opportunity to immerse myself in Japan’s culture and media landscape while exploring some of its most iconic cities. I looked forward to experiencing daily life from a new perspective, learning firsthand about Japanese culture and gaining a deeper understanding of how media and communication operate in a different part of the world. That’s when I knew I needed to make this dream become a reality.
With the support of my family and my professors, I was able to do just that. After signing up, the excitement really started to kick in. As the weeks drew closer, I couldn’t help but think about all the new experiences that awaited me. The excitement continued to build as I imagined exploring a new culture, meeting new people and stepping outside of my comfort zone in ways I never had before.
The day had finally come. All my bags were packed, I had checked in for my flight, waiting for it later that day. Filled with nerves and overwhelming excitement, I headed towards the airport.
Fifteen hours later, we arrived in Japan, and it was time for my study abroad adventure to begin. When looking back on the trip today, it’s hard to put my favorite things just on one hand. Everything brought me a new look at life and culture and changed my perspective on world travel. By getting to learn while creating content, I felt I was able to connect more deeply with what I was seeing in real time.
The opportunities to visit temples and shrines such as the Kinkaku-ji and the famous Floating O-Torii Gate made me really appreciate seeing the world and gaining these experiences. I had the opportunity to participate in a traditional tea ceremony, which taught me the importance of attention to detail and how even the smallest actions can carry deep cultural meaning and significance.
Although each and every part of the trip will forever go down in my brain as such an amazing experience, some of the most memorable moments were found through the silence. There were moments when I ventured off on my own to capture content and write stories, and those experiences allowed me to truly observe the world around me. Rather than simply visiting Japan as a tourist, I was able to experience daily life firsthand, gaining a deeper appreciation for the customs, social behaviors and cultural values that shape everyday interactions.
This study abroad opportunity showed me a new world of observing the differences in marketing, advertising and consumer behavior between Japan and the United States. Getting to immerse myself in the culture led me to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese history, traditions and religion.
On the more personal side, learning during this study abroad program helped me gain an understanding of international travel. One of the most valuable aspects of studying abroad was gaining a greater sense of independence by navigating unfamiliar places on my own.
The experience taught me the importance of adaptability, whether it was overcoming language barriers, understanding cultural differences or learning how to confidently navigate new environments. These challenges pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally. This travel for me provided lessons that couldn’t have been replicated in a regular classroom.
Going into my senior year, my last semester of college, I’m grateful for this experience because it has truly become one of the most impactful experiences of my college career. Not only did it strengthen my passion for content creation and social media, but it also expanded my love for traveling.
I hope to take this experience to help me transform how I face the social media world. Both my development and my skills but also expanded my reach. Getting to meet new people and grow my connection with them changed the way I want to face my future career.
This trip expanded my global perspective, which will be valuable in my future in marketing, media and content creation careers. I was able to enhance my observation skills, allowing me to identify trends, consumer behaviors and storytelling opportunities.
Overall, my time spent in Japan was one of the most impactful experiences of my college career. It broadened my perspective, strengthened my confidence and taught me valuable lessons about culture, communication and personal growth. The experiences and memories I gained throughout will continue to influence my personal life and future career long after graduation.
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