While at Waseda University, I plan to study a combination of Japanese language and culture courses intensely with the goal of fulfilling the requirements for obtaining a Japanese Studies minor at my home university of Mount Allison. I have wanted to participate in an exchange at Waseda University since I visited the main campus in 2014. It was a major goal of mine to attend Waseda University and study Japanese as well as courses relating to Japanese history, culture, and society. For that reason, I decided to apply to the School of Social Sciences into the Contemporary Japanese Studies Program. More than just studying Japanese language, I would like to gain a better understanding of Japan as a nation and the unique culture and society of the country by taking courses that I am not able to take in Canada. My academic goals are as they have been …show more content…
Participating in an exchange program is an honor that I plan to take full advantage of by getting involved in both academic life and campus life at Waseda University. Joining clubs would would allow me to practice speaking Japanese every day as well as get to know like-minded classmates. One main advantage of participating in an exchange program is being able to meet and share ideas with individuals from various backgrounds and experience a new culture. I believe my purpose for this exchange is to experience growth as a global citizen and to broaden my horizons both academically and culturally by becoming more independent.
I intend to take many courses offered in the CJSP in order to receive a well-rounded understanding of contemporary Japanese issues and concerns. Upon graduation, I have a few dreams that I am interested in pursuing. Firstly, I am interested in pursuing diplomatic work with the Government of Canada, preferably in Japan, and would therefore like to gain a good understanding of the complexities of Japanese global ambitions by studying in the contemporary Japanese