Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

Waseda University Student Housing Center Student Staff
Lau Nicholas Zhi Xuan, 4th year student, School of Creative Science and Engineering

In front of the Waseda University Student Housing Center at Waseda STEP 21

Students participate in activities that contribute to enhancing the university’s value or work while studying on campus. What kind of students are involved in this important role of "student participation/student jobs" at the university, and how are they involved? This time, we will introduce the daily life of Nicholas, a fourth-year student in the School of Creative Science and Engineering, who works as a student staff member at the "Waseda University Student Housing Center," which supports Waseda students in finding housing.

Q. How did you get started?

Having been born and raised in Malaysia, my motivation for applying to this job stemmed from a desire to learn more practical Japanese and gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, beyond simply reading textbooks and attending classes during my time in Japan. To achieve this, I felt it was necessary to work in an environment where I could interact with diverse people. Among these, "housing" is a very important element in life, and I decided to apply for this job because I believe it offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the housing situation in Japan and help others, while also growing as a person at the same time.

Q. What kind of activities do you do?

At the Student Housing Center, I primarily handle administrative tasks such as customer service, property viewings, and preparing rental agreements. I also utilize my strengths in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Malay to facilitate smooth communication between international students and the property management company. Specifically, this includes accompanying students on viewings, assisting with contract preparations, and translating the newly launched international student website from Japanese to English. I work a few times a week, utilizing my time between and after classes.

Photo on the left: Attending to customers at the counter.
Photo on the right: Performing administrative tasks at his desk.

Q. Please share your thoughts on the experience.

I find great satisfaction in providing concrete support to my friends in their search for housing and guiding them to success. The in-depth specialized knowledge I gained about Japanese housing through my work proved invaluable when I left theWaseda International Student House (WISH)  and searched for new accommodation. Furthermore, I am confident that the numerous connections and opportunities I gained through these activities will be a great asset to my career and life.

The Waseda University Student Housing Center is located a one-minute walk from the South Gate of Waseda Campus, and is marked by a yellow banner.

Q. How do you balance multiple commitments, such as your studies and a student job?

University life is a valuable period for low-risk growth, where you can dedicate yourself to new challenges, hobbies, and work without fear of failure. To balance many tasks, I consciously manage my time by clearly distinguishing between "work," "play," and "rest." I also value maintaining good daily habits such as regular sleep, healthy eating, and moderate exercise so that I can always perform at my best.

Q. Please tell us about your future aspirations and the challenges you plan to take on.

My major was mechanical engineering, but through this job, I've gained exposure to the housing industry and Japanese back-office operations, which has sparked a strong interest in digital transformation (DX) and improving operational efficiency through data utilization. Going forward, I hope to combine the engineering perspective I learned at university with the experience I've gained in this job to make significant contributions to society within the IT industry.

How he spends his week when classes are in session

A typical week's schedule. I planned my course load systematically during my first and second years of university so that I could dedicate time to job hunting, internships, and other activities.