Times Of TIU

Writer: Kotomi K.

Editor: Theo F.

Translator: Maurille R.

Introduction

Freshmen and Sophomores, have you been enjoying your university life? Compared to high school, being in university gives you the freedom to do and explore many things to help you prepare for your future. As someone who is starting their college life, it might be hard to know where to begin, so here are some things you should consider doing during your freshman and sophomore years of university.

On-Campus Activities

1. Open Campus Staff
   • As an Open Campus Staff member, you will work at open campus events to help students who are interested in Tokyo International University to learn about the school. The staff mainly handle event setup and management on the day of the event. By explaining the university in your own words and guiding visitors, you can improve your communication skills.
2. On-Campus Internships
   • The university offers a program called SLI (Student Leadership Internship), which is a paid internship similar to a part-time job. Since both Japanese students and International students can participate it can be an opportunity for you to communicate and exchange culture to other students as well. So why not give it a try?
     • SLI Team:

1. CG (Campus Globalization)
2. CP (Conversation Partner)
3.  LC (Learning Commons)
4. PA (Peer Assistants)
5. PAW (Peer Advisors for Writing)
6. Qualification Courses
   • The university offers various courses to help you obtain qualifications that will be useful in your future career. Taking courses for qualifications you are interested in can give you an advantage in job hunting.
     • Examples:
       1. Career Center Public Service Exam Courses,
       2.  Job Hunting Exam Courses, Finance and Accounting/Real Estate Courses
       3. IT Qualification Courses

Off-Campus Activities

1. Part-Time Jobs
   • Working part-time off-campus provides you with direct exposure to Japanese society and serves as valuable social education for yourself.
2. Internships (From Second Year Onwards)
   • Participating in internships in professions you are interested in can help you  gain knowledge and experience in business skills that you cannot learn within the university.

For further information we interviewed 3rd year students at Tokyo International Universit

1.  Ryo Suzuki (4th year, Faculty of Economics)

Q. What did you do during your first and second years of university?	A. I participated in volunteer activities organized by the university.
Q. What successes, happy moments, or personal growth did you experience from doing that?	A. Besides expanding my social circle, participating in team activities gave me the opportunity to analyze which roles, such as leader or supporter, suited me best. This self-analysis was very helpful for my job hunting.
Q. Looking back, what do you think was good to have done in your first and second years?	A. Obtaining qualifications: Rather than just acquiring qualifications for job hunting, it’s beneficial to obtain various qualifications that you can use for yourself in society.
Q. What advice do you have for new first and second-year students?	A. By taking actions with the future in mind, you can lead a university life without regrets. Don’t just enjoy the sweet things; sometimes, bravely take on the challenging tasks too.

2. Karen Watanabe (4th year, Faculty of Economics)

Q. What did you do during your first and second years of university?	A. I took on many challenges, even those with a low chance of success!
Q. What successes, happy moments, or personal growth did you experience from doing that?	A. I wanted to improve my English, so I applied for the CG program. Although I had neither English skills nor any relevant abilities, my willingness to challenge myself and my motivation were recognized, and now I’m in my fourth year of the program. Looking back, if I were in the position of selecting candidates, I wouldn’t have chosen myself. I believe I was lucky to be accepted. Therefore, even reckless challenges can succeed if the timing is right. It’s important to challenge yourself without fear of failure.
Q. Looking back, what do you think was good to have done in your first and second years?	A. I wish I had taken on more challenges, such as TEDxTIU. I was intimidated by hearing from friends that many talented people were on the team. When I saw a junior successfully pass the TEDxTIU admission process, I regretted not trying. Even if you think something might be impossible, you won’t know the result unless you try. It’s a waste to decide from the start that you can’t do something.
Q. What advice do you have for new first and second-year students?	A. As you progress through the grades, you’ll have more responsibilities and fewer opportunities to try new things. Since university life only happens once, try various things in your first and second years, even if you might fail.

Conclusion

As you grow as a university student, the range of things you can do also expands, which might lead to confusion and uncertainty about what to do. However, these interviews helped you understand the importance of taking on challenges during the first few years of your university life. Having more free time as a university student allows you to widen and deepen your connection with other people. In addition, it also helps you test your abilities by courageously taking on new challenges that will broaden your horizons and enrich your university life. So, what are you waiting for? Find and plan new goals in your university life, and take the first step, even if it’s a small one, for your future self!