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Interview with Alumnus Yuta Takagi

Multiple perspectives gained from volunteering at an NPO for education and friends made during university become a fortune

I currently teach at a public elementary school in my hometown of Ibaraki. I became a teacher because my teachers were a big emotional support whenever my parents moved due to the nature of their work. I majored in primary education, and my seminar professor said, “You must create a curriculum together with children.” As I have applied this philosophy into my career, I realized whether the children enjoy learning or not depends on the teacher’s effort and creativity.

I studied diligently and put effort into my extracurricular activity volunteering at an NPO with a focus on education. I was involved in hosting educational events and volunteering at schools. Sometimes, I took responsibility organizing and managing events. Bringing everyone’s ideas together was not an easy task, but I did my best to make every person’s idea count. From this experience, I have become more aware of creating a classroom where each student’s thoughts and beliefs matter.

Another valuable experience I gained through this activity was my network of students studying education at other universities. We all had interest in education, but our specializations were diverse. As we exchanged ideas, we gained multiple perspectives. Currently, the members are now not only teachers, but government officials, corporate workers, and also entrepreneurs working in different aspects of education. We still gather from time to time and exchange ideas.

I did not think about working for my hometown from the start. As I was starting to prepare for my teacher licensure examinations, I realized how much my community had given me. I wanted to give back with the experience and knowledge I gained through meeting all kinds of people in Tokyo. Before exams, I went to the Teacher Education Center every day for advice and practiced interviews. Reflecting upon my undergraduate years, what I gained from classes, volunteering at an NPO, and my part-time job as a swimming coach all add onto my foundation as a teacher.

Volunteering in a disaster-hit area and my career path

In my second year of university, I volunteered in an afterschool program in a disaster-stricken area. I was deeply moved by the children who were looking forward to their goals and dreams in life despite the tragic incident. As someone who was aspiring to work in the field of education, I decided to become a teacher who can directly work with children in schools.

Thinking about the curriculum from the children’s point of view

When I was teaching my fifth-grade class about the fisheries industry during social studies, one of my students asked a question about how fresh fish is delivered to our homes. This was something I had not thought of before, and this student’s curiosity led me to an opportunity to plan a class together with children. This was an exciting moment in my career, and I hope to continue enhancing my understanding for children.

※This article is based on an interview in 2015