{"id":27265,"date":"2024-01-26T15:24:13","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T06:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/icc\/?p=27265"},"modified":"2024-11-19T16:15:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T07:15:48","slug":"icc-ssl-graduation-report-2024-haruka-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/icc\/news-en\/2024\/01\/26\/27265\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning experiences with fantastic people\u3000ICC Student Staff Graduation Report"},"content":{"rendered":"
Haruka
\n<\/strong>School of Social Sciences
\n<\/strong>ICC Student Staff Leader
\n<\/strong>September 2020\uff0dJanuary 2024<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

I became an ICC Student Staff Leader<\/a>\u00a0(SSL) in the fall semester of my first year, and although I had to take a year off to study abroad in Canada, I was able to challenge myself in many different ways throughout my university life while also working at ICC. I was blessed to work and interact with wonderful friends with diverse backgrounds, and working as an SSL was one of the best parts of my student life. By looking back on my precious experiences at ICC, I hope this report will give you some idea of how amazing working at ICC is.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why I became an SSL<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

I first heard about ICC when I was a high school student. I happened to drop by the ICC lounge when I visited Waseda, and I learned about ICC’s activities when an SSL at the reception desk spoke to me kindly. I was attracted by the content of the activities that ICC had, but also found the open atmosphere of ICC very attractive. Because I had the experience of living aboard and studying at an international school, I thought interacting with students with diverse backgrounds at Waseda and organizing events myself was a valuable experience that only ICC could offer.<\/p>\n

Challenges of the COVID situation <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Just after passing the exam and being accepted to Waseda University, the outbreak of the coronavirus began. Due to the pandemic, my high school graduation ceremony, university entrance ceremony, and welcome parties were all cancelled. Moreover, classes did not start until May, and even when they resumed, all classes were held online. Of course the intake of international students temporarily stopped, and there was a period of time when we could not even go to the campus, let alone engage in intercultural exchange.<\/p>\n

It was a really difficult time for me, as I was looking forward to enjoying university life. Even in this situation, I wanted to somehow have a fulfilling time despite the pandemic. Therefore, I decided to start two things: to join the university\u2019s varsity hockey team and to engage in ICC activities as an SSL. As a result, I was able to lead a fulfilling student life, even during the pandemic. In particular, since I spent a year in Canada for a study abroad program from the fall semester of my sophomore year, working at ICC and being a part of the hockey team was the most precious time I could spend on campus before going abroad.<\/p>\n\n\t\t