Lina Saraie
School of International Liberal Studies
ICC Student Staff Leader:
October 2011-July 2013
Introduction
Let’s face it; people who have confidence are sexy. Not that they are extremely good-looking, but you gotta have some respect for them. They make you feel at ease, and all worries seem to wash away when you are with them. They take charge, leaving you awestruck, jaw hanging, unable to even comprehend the situation around you.
It’s no lie to say that many of the Student Staff Leaders at the ICC have a great amount of confidence in themselves. They seem to already know what they are good at, and can put that into practice therefore becoming useful to the ICC. One may be good at giving presentations and another may be like an artist, creating beautiful posters and flyers for events. The fact that the ICC is a great work environment, with so many things happening at the same time cannot be denied, conducted by the confident student staff and supportive ICC staff. But when you yourself must stand side by side with these “supermen” and “catwomen”, it’s a whole other story.
Becoming an SSL
From high school, I had gotten used to the reaction that people give me when I tell them I am not half Japanese. I don’t know if it’s my big eyes, no-bangs haircut or name that starts with an L (in Japanese, the alphabet L doesn’t exist), but people seem flabbergasted when I tell them I am of 100 percent Japanese blood. However, a look of relief flashes by their faces when I tell them I was born in America and lived there until I was 13. To them it makes sense- the jeans with holes, the flipping of the hair, and the somewhat “gaijin-esque” pronunciation of words. However, I was not content with this explanation of my character. I am Japanese, therefore I did not want my past life in America to become an excuse for my inability to speak the language or understand the culture.
So that’s why I became an SSL in the second semester of my freshman year. I was also bored of my Waseda life, and was on the hunt for a challenge when I came across the recruitment page for the student staff. I became interested, seeing that it was a chance for me to learn office work and organize various events. But most importantly, it was a chance for me to improve my Japanese. My first time at the ICC lounge was to turn in the application, and I did so without much thought and little anxiety as my mindset at the time was, “of course I’m going to get the job, it’s me…” (A little bit more about myself, I’m pretty studious. I like a great challenge and try very hard to get what I want.) So needless to say it came as no surprise when I got the e-mail stating I was to become a student staff at the ICC. I was bright-eyed, excited for what lay ahead.
Standing at the Start Line
However, it’s not exactly easy trying to find your place within the ICC at the beginning. All of your co-workers are fast; fast at making decisions, fast at working and fast on their feet. In my case it didn’t help that most of student staff there were older which meant they knew and had experienced more than me. But that was no excuse and my sempais expected a lot from me; just because I was younger, it didn’t mean I could slack off. But in truth it was hard, trying to find out how you can contribute to the ICC, when in reality you don’t even know what exactly you are good at.
However, the ICC is a great environment in terms of finding out more about oneself. The ICC is a place where you can grow and shine with help from others. Sometimes, it takes words from another to fully comprehend some aspects about yourself. For example, I never thought that I had good communication skills when it came to talking with strangers. However, through the ICC lunch events, I came to realize that I enjoy extracting information from people and putting people at ease. At the ICC, you’ll be assigned various tasks ranging from making posters, overseeing events, creating your own events, to cleaning the office, making presentations sometimes in front of a large audience and being amiable to those who come to the ICC lounge. You’ll master how to successfully maneuver programs on the computer, set up projectors, and artfully put away round tables in a small rectangular closet. You’ll practice writing business e-mails and foster your communication skills. Although demanding at first, after a while an SSL is able to take command of all of these tasks which require skills and knowledge an ordinary university student does not usually possess; this fact alone will make many feel confident.
The First Event
As a requirement, an SSL must think of an original event and see it through to the very end. These events can be academic lectures, country festivals, field trips, camps etc. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds; especially an SSL’s very first event. Not knowing left from right, an SSL prays and hopes that their first event is a success (with of course help from the sempai staff). My very first event was an academic lecture featuring an interpreter, born and raised in Japan. I remember worrying about whether or not people would actually come while designing the poster that would be displayed all around the school. I remember my voice cracking and hands shaking as I took my position as the MC of the event. And I also remember the pure bliss and happiness I felt after the event when I looked through the 100 or so participants’ survey. Accomplishing your first event as an SSL leads to more confidence and a great feeling of satisfaction.
From Mentee to Mentor
At the ICC, we have a mentor system for the student staff. A newly recruited SSL is like a lost lamb, trying to find its way in a sea of confusing tasks and ICC jargon. In order to guide this little lamb, a mentor or sempai student staff is assigned. A new SSL is allowed to ask his/her mentor any questions and for advice on their original event. This mentor system was implemented when I first became an SSL, so it’s only about 2 years old. However, it’s become a useful system for assimilating into the ICC for an SSL. From the mentor’s perspective, it has become a measuring tool for the position you undertake at the ICC, as well as a tool for gaining confidence. Becoming a mentor means you have been given the responsibility to nurture a new SSL. By teaching and taking good care of your “little lamb”, a mentor SSL is able to fully realize all the tasks they have overcome and pass down the knowledge they have accumulated.
Memories of a Lifetime
It’s not uncommon for an SSL to say that the experiences you go through at the ICC will be a part of who you are, and I am one to agree. The memories I have made at the ICC and the people that I have met have shaped and influenced how I am today. There are particular participants that I remember so vividly even after months have passed, as well as events that I found particularly interesting or fun to be a part of. But most of all, I am grateful to the ICC staff and other student staff that I worked with; they have created a heartwarming community that I am proud to be a member of. Years from now, I am going to look back at my college days and remember my time spent with these amazing people.
Conclusion
The fact is that being an SSL is a challenge. You may not be used to checking your emails everyday or cannot freely express yourself in Japanese. You may not be artistic and may worry that the posters you make aren’t intriguing or your public speaking skills may not be up to par judging by your shaking voice and trembling knees. With every mistake, your confidence may become lower and lower. However, I assure you that this is only in the beginning. The ICC is a great environment to work on skills that you feel may need to be worked on. With support from the staff and fellow student staff, you’ll be able to enjoy working as a SSL. Let the ICC become a stage for you, so you can use your strengths to shine and become a more complete person.
