1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

From Student Blogger, Ayaka: Beyond Your Expectations

From Student Blogger, Ayaka: Beyond Your Expectations

Jan 7, 2019

This semester is almost ending.

Time passes so quickly! I feel like this semester began a month ago!

This semester was really challenging for me, compared to the last semester. I can’t count how many pages I’ve read for classes. But a good thing is that it makes me aware that I’ve improved little by little.

In addition to academic activity, I run the Japanese Visual Culture Club at CSI this semester. We call it “JVCC.” We usually watch Japanese anime, create questions regarding Japan, and sometimes I teach Japanese since I became Vice President of the club.

It is great that there are active clubs on campus which allow you to make friends. It worked out for me, especially because I’m an international student. I didn’t have any friends who were born and raised or have lived in New York for a long time. Many of my friends at first were international students like me. So, we really knew what we should do nor how an American university works.

Besides, as I wrote before in my blog, I was heavily homesick. I came to the U.S. in January of this year, so the last semester was my first academic session. Someone told me about the JVCC at the beginning of last semester and suggested it as a way to meet other Japanese students. Although there were no Japanese students, I met a lot of American students who had similar hobbies.

Since I enjoyed this club, I decided to run for the leadership position of the JVCC at the end of the semester.

To become the Vice President, however, I needed a lot of courage.

During the election, I was very anxious. My mind was full of anxiety and questions: “Can I run the club with my limited speaking skills?” “Can I manage it with my academic work?” “What if I fail at something?” I started questioning whether I should run for the VP next semester. And then I realized that it was all my bad habit! I was procrastinating! Then, I tried to change my mind. If I miss this opportunity, I would never become the VP and I will end up regretting it. So finally, I decided to do it.

I won the election and everyone welcomed me. The Vice President’s job is to support other officers so I often work with the President. We agreed that the club should be more active and we implemented new initiatives. For instance, we invited a professor who had published online comics, co-organized a joint meeting with the International Students Club, went to Karaoke, taught Japanese phrases every week, and so on.

This is when I presented about Yokai, or Japanese traditional ghosts.

I felt a little bit nervous when I stood in the front, but it turned out that everybody enjoyed it. It was interesting that we had different perspectives and feelings. Some club members asked me something that I’d never considered before. I’m glad that many people are interested in my home country’s culture. The reason why I came here is to learn American culture but I think I need both input and output. I love these weekly cultural exchanges. (Maybe that’s why I chose Sociology as my major.) I’ll continue being an officer of the club, so I’m already excited that I will be able to get new experiences next semester.

Many people around me told me that I changed in a good way. Someone said, “Now you have many friends and you became an international student peer advisor and VP of the club! What happened to Ayaka who always cried?!” Well ... even I didn’t expect that such a big change would occur in me. And I’m happy about not crying most of the time.

Although there might be a barrier where I’m heading, I know that I can overcome it. By challenging yourself, you will find that you can achieve what might seem impossible at first.


 

Ayaka is a Japanese 24-year-old transfer student at the College of Staten Island, the City University of New York. She is majoring in Sociology. 

Follow us:
Written by

Study in the USA

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled Trying to Figure Out Which U.S. School Is Right for You?
Trying to Figure Out Which U.S. School Is Right for You?
Main image for the blog post titled Turn Your Vision Into Action in 2023
Turn Your Vision Into Action in 2023
Main image for the blog post titled New Year, New Me…not!
New Year, New Me…not!
Main image for the blog post titled An Open Letter to Lycoming College
An Open Letter to Lycoming College
Read more

Check Out These Schools

College of Southern Nevada

College of Southern Nevada

$5,000—$10,000 Year

Certificate/Short Term Bachelor Degree English Programs
Contact
Arizona State University

Arizona State University

$15,000—$20,000 Semester

Masters Online Bachelor Degree
Contact
University of Maryland-Maryland English Institute

University of Maryland-Maryland English Institute

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

English Programs Summer Certificate/Short Term
Contact

Related Stories

Life on Liberty University Campus during COVID-19

Main image for the article titled Life on Liberty University Campus during COVID-19
Expanded Meal Options for Auburn Global Students During COVID-19

Main image for the article titled Expanded Meal Options for Auburn Global Students During COVID-19
Coping Strategies for International Students During COVID-19

Main image for the article titled Coping Strategies for International Students During COVID-19
Lycoming College Expands Scholarships for International Students

Main image for the article titled Lycoming College Expands Scholarships for International Students

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for ARGO

ARGO

Let us help you through your U.S. visa application process. GET STARTED NOW!

Read more
Partner service logo for There’s a business school for everyone. Meet yours at a free upcoming event!

There’s a business school for everyone. Meet yours at a free upcoming...

Ready to make your MBA dreams a reality? Register now for a virtual or in-person event with The MBA Tour! Don’t miss your chance to speak directly with leading business schools, such as Harvard University, Boston University, Columbia University, UC...

Read more
Partner service logo for Want to intern at big tech companies like Google and Microsoft?

Want to intern at big tech companies like Google and Microsoft?

Career Premium Offers Virtual Internships for International Students. You can now apply for a virtual internship and prepare for the global workforce from anywhere in the world. Internships are extremely flexible and run throughout the year, so you c...

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

Study in the USA provided me with a lot of information about the program I was interested in at my university. I was able to get all sorts of statistics, as well as learn about the internships I could apply to while at the university.

Raiza Soares India

I read about many blogs and student experiences on Study in the USA's website that helped me make sure that I wanted to study in the USA.

Nicole Winter Ramos Pereira Brazil

I read the information found on StudyUSA.com and it helped me understand the process of applying in the USA. I have also talked to a StudyUSA counselor and she helped me with the things I struggle with like my essay for college application. StudyUSA give me the information I needed.

Anais Gardere Haiti

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.