I feel as if SI has taught me lessons on subjects that school and university classes would not teach. It teaches us how to think about topics we never really have time to think about and teaches us the ability to think outside of the box and out of our comfort zone. I believe these skills are very beneficial to our future as they are skills that apply to all fields of work, unlike the very subject specific topics we learn in class. SI programs are also great in the sense that they are offered in both English and Japanese, as well as covering global/international topics, giving Si and the WISH dorm a truly international feel. The global topics discussed in SI helped me share my opinions and receive opinions on subjects from students of different culture and beliefs. This interaction of knowledge between the teachers, students, and myself have helped broaden my perspective on many of the world’s topics, such as ‘Is Socratic or Confucius style teaching better’ or ‘what companies do you think will become more global in the future’. In conclusion, I believe that SI is opportunity to learn more about the world around you, and it has been a useful class for me to further open up my mind and widen my perspective on world issues.
(School of International Liberal Studies, J.J.)