When I entered Okayama University, the educational programs to meet the needs of globalization and develop All-round Achievers had already been taking root in the university.
 For example, the quarter system was introduced from my first year at the university. During class hours, sufficient time was allocated for practical seminars and discussions as well as lectures, which made me realize that the university was actively trying to enhance its education. The quarter system also made it easy for us to take a long vacation, and many students, including myself, went abroad to study a foreign language or join a long-term internship program for self-improvement.
 L-café, a place where international and Japanese students can interact, was already quite popular among students when I joined the university. At L-café, English lessons at different levels were given, mainly by international students, which help us not only learn English but also make friends with international students and students of other faculties. With hindsight, this experience gave me the diverse perspectives needed to study health systems.
 As a graduate student, I am currently studying bioengineering, which is my specialty, to develop innovative technologies, and acquire a broad range of perspectives to understand problems associated with medical professionals and health systems. If we are to create suitable products and ideas that match the needs of society, we should have a broad understanding of both material and human elements, instead of confining ourselves to our specialties. My colleagues at the graduate school have diverse backgrounds, such as medical science, the humanities and engineering, and this encourages useful discussions across different specialties and has given me many important insights beyond my research activities alone.
 The progressive practical training subjects, such as Advanced Hospital Training, provide invaluable opportunities to talk with doctors, patients and businesspeople and learn directly about the problems affecting society and medical practices today. Though I am only a student, these opportunities have helped me better understand social problems and motivated me in my daily research.
 As an undergraduate student, I joined a short-term study abroad program at Dublin City University in Ireland to study English, because talking with international students had made me interested in seeing the world outside Japan and also recognize the importance of English for my studies.
 With determination, I traveled from Japan to Ireland, but felt timid and uneasy among students from other countries such as France, Turkey and Korea with different cultural and religious backgrounds. However, as time passed and I studied with them, I realized they were no different than me, and that they too had left their home countries with a desire to study abroad. With this realization, I became more active in the classes: I asked the instructors many questions even if trivial, and actively participated in the discussions. This taught me that the more effort we put in, the more we can get out.
 With the progress of globalization in society, it will become increasingly important to connect with people with different backgrounds. To find solutions to pending social problems and realize a sustainable society, we must work closely with people from different countries, regions, cultures and sectors, develop mutual understanding, and take diverse approaches to the problems. I will keep studying hard, hoping to create entirely new knowledge.

As of November 2020