Initially, I enrolled in the CA6 program to complete my thesis, which focused on how Japanese schools cultivate adolescents’ social-emotional skills. I hoped to interview Japanese students after arriving in Japan and analyze the data. With the support of my mentor, tutor, and other staff at the University of Tsukuba, I successfully completed my research.
My time at the University of Tsukuba was the most pleasant three months of my graduate studies. Here, I didn’t feel the same pressure as in Shanghai. Every morning, I woke up to blue skies and white clouds, with sunlight streaming onto my bedding—it was incredibly relaxing. I encountered countless warm-hearted individuals here who cared for me like family, ensuring I never felt alone on this unfamiliar land. Similarly, I formed strong friendships with friends from Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Meeting them opened my eyes to more choices and possibilities in life, enriching my perspective and making my life more multidimensional. I believe this experience will profoundly influence many of my future decisions. Beyond that, I’ve gained insights into the clothing, music, and cultures of many countries, making me more open-minded and accepting. Compared to my initial goal of completing my research, I’ve gained so much more—warmth, friendships, cultural understanding, and so much more. These will become treasures for my entire life. I am incredibly grateful now that I signed up for the CA6 program. Had I not participated, I would have missed out on a truly meaningful chapter in my life.
We explored Mount Tsukuba together back when we were all still so young and inexperienced.
Despite coming from different countries, everyone still enjoyed the joy of music together.
