Miyuki
School of International Liberal Studies
ICC Student Staff Leader:
May 2018 – February 2022
It has already been four years since I became a Student Staff Leader (SSL) at the ICC in spring 2018. I joined ICC in my first semester at Waseda University. Since then, ICC has been a significant part of my university life. I’m grateful that I made the decision to join and stay at the ICC throughout my journey at Waseda University.
How did I become an SSL?
I still remember the first time I found out about ICC. I was sitting in a classroom filled with first-year students for a long orientation. I was tired and sleepy, but then someone in a green t-shirt and denim jacket started talking in English with a nervous but cheerful voice. Despite not being fluent, I was amazed by her courage and confidence in speaking in front of hundreds of international students. Her presentation was brief, but it left a deep impression that I could never forget, and she successfully made me curious about ICC. At the time, I was also looking for a part-time job, and when I visited the ICC, I remember thinking to myself, “This is it! This is the kind of place I’d like to work at!” Long story short, here I am, four years into my journey that is sadly coming to an end.
Why did I become an SSL?
There are several reasons behind my decision to become an SSL. First, I felt welcomed and accepted at the ICC. As a first-year student, I had many insecurities about my identity as a hijab-wearing Muslim. Why? Because my attire screams that I am a foreigner. Although I rarely encounter blatant racism in Japan, people would avoid sitting next to me on the train, steer clear of me when giving out flyers, stare at my hijab, talk down on my identity, among many slights. These microaggressions slowly ate at my self-confidence, and I felt like a stray cat in a strange world. When I learned about the ICC, I felt that I finally found a shelter: a warm place that accepts me for who I am without prejudice.
Second, I admired ICC’s vision and mission. ICC aims to provide a space for people of various backgrounds and provide opportunities for intercultural exchange by holding a wide range of events planned and organized by students, for students. Through these events, ICC strives to normalize diversity and foster mutual understanding in Waseda University. As a minority in Japan and someone who has first-hand experience with racism, I felt a sense of duty that compelled me to contribute to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment at Waseda. Not many universities have a place like ICC that gives its students such precious opportunities. Therefore, I decided to take the chance and challenge myself.
My experience at ICC
There are many exciting aspects of working at the ICC. First, ICC fosters leadership by giving students the chance to propose, plan, and put on their own events. Apart from coming up with ideas, we also have to come up with realistic plans and attainable targets, followed by precise actions. This helps ICC staff to develop organizing and planning skills that are useful even outside of the ICC. I have organized numerous events in the past four years, such as Hijab Theme Café event, Indonesian Dance Workshop, Arabic Calligraphy Workshop, AEON Talk Session, Hana Tajima Talk Session, and Online Art Therapy Workshop. 
As the saying goes, the first step is always the hardest, and I felt that whenever I had to write an event proposal. I always started writing my event proposal by asking myself questions: What am I interested in right now? What kind of social problem is relatable to me that I would like to address? How would I want to address that problem? What kind of impact would I like to make with my event? How would my event benefit the community? Why should ICC hold this event? These questions have helped keep me on track in planning an event with themes related to my experience and interest. Anyone can come up with a random event proposal. The challenging part is coming up with new and fresh ideas that also reflect my interests and values. Why? Because I think it is very important to stay true to myself. That is why I take pride in my events, because every event I’ve proposed came from ideas that matter to me.
Second, ICC is a dynamic place that always embraces change and seeks new improvements by encouraging its staff to be creative. One of the things that I love the most about ICC is that this place is not afraid of change. In the past four years, I’ve seen how much ICC has adapted to new technology, and I think the biggest reason behind this is us, the SSLs. Since ICC is filled with open-minded, progressive, and creative students, ICC is constantly growing in every aspect. From daily tasks to event management, we always try to discuss the most suitable way of doing things. Even when a pandemic disrupted our plans, ICC always found ways to bounce back. This part of ICC inspires me to do the same: to seek room for improvement, to not be afraid of criticism, to be a creative problem-solver, and to develop a growth mindset.
Last but not least, one of the most exciting parts of working at the ICC is having a second family and a second home at Waseda University. At the ICC, I work with fellow Waseda students, staff and faculty members. It is not merely a place where I work, but also a place where I grow as an individual with the help of the people around me. At the ICC, SSLs have many opportunities to work in teams. Through these experiences, I learned a lot about how to work effectively and efficiently with a team. In addition, working in teams also gave me the chance to communicate more often and create a stronger bond with other SSLs. Working at the ICC has given me not only new colleagues but also new friends and family.
What it means to be an SSL
One of my most memorable experiences working at the ICC was when I talked with event participants. One time, a fellow hijab-wearing Muslim approached me, held my hand, looked me in the eye and thanked me for my presence at the ICC. She said that seeing me, someone relatable to her, working at such a wonderful place with an admirable vision and mission inspired her to be more confident. She said she felt encouraged to accept herself, embrace her identity, and unapologetically live life to the fullest according to her own values. Her words really touched and empowered me. She made me realize how meaningful and rewarding it is to instill confidence in others simply by being confident in my own skin and identity. Through this unexpected encounter, I learned the real meaning behind my job.
Obviously, everyone has their own perceptions of their job, and people may think of being an SSL as merely a part-time job. However, working at the ICC is not only about putting on events. For me, ICC is a place of opportunities. We continuously and unconsciously influence each other in a multicultural community. The outcome of these interactions depends on our input and how we process them. ICC plays a vital role in this dispersed dynamic by providing the required space and resources. As the driving force behind the ICC, SSLs enrich the community by utilizing our boundless creativity and unique experiences. Therefore, as an SSL, we are given the opportunity to grow and create more opportunities for the community.
Finally …
Looking back on my journey as an SSL, it was long and full of obstacles. However, it was also filled with wonderful encounters, precious friends, unforgettable memories, and valuable experiences. I made many mistakes, overcame numerous challenges, learned countless lessons, acquired new skills, and gained self-confidence. The process was slow, but I grew little by little over the past four years along with ICC. If I had to go back to my first semester, I would apply to become an SSL and do it all over again. Why? Because ICC has given me priceless opportunities to discover who I am and what I want to be in the future. Needless to say, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the ICC.
