Welcome to the Student Voice Series. The series interviews students at our English-medium programs. Once a month, the International Admission Office will release an interview with our students. We hope these interviews can be helpful to you when thinking about choosing to come to Ritsumeikan University (RU).
Post by International Admissions Office
Sakshi Gupta from India
College of Policy Science, Community and Regional Policy Studies (CRPS) Major, 4th year
Scholarships Received:
Graduated High School
- Arwachin International School, Delhi
Hobbies
- Travelling to quiet green places in nature
- Yoga
- Discovering and vibing on good music
It was only when my high school Japanese language teacher took us to a 'Study in Japan' workshop held in Delhi, that I was first introduced to the English-based CRPS Major at RU. Part of the reason I decided to apply for this program was my interest in this major. I'd like to believe that I am a natural empath, and the field of social welfare -giving back to the community and environment in a good way- has always been something that I can completely immerse myself into. CRPS major -all about social research, discussing cross-border socio-economic issues- deemed fit for me, and so I applied for it. Fortunately, I was selected for the MEXT Scholarship, which made me pack my bags and come to Japan without having second thoughts.
My studies revolve around International Affairs, social research and sustainability. In the past 5 semesters, I have chosen courses on Culture and Conflict, refugee crises, sociology, environmental studies, social movements, on-site fieldwork and introductory courses on Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Moreover, the mandatory course of On-site Research that stretched over 2 years allowed me to visit Bangkok, Thailand and conduct a field study.
Other than that, courses such as Academic Writing, Academic Reading and Critical Thinking Skills have assisted me to improve my English writing skills necessary for writing good research papers. I've also reminded myself to choose computing courses such as Survey Analysis, Introductory Course on R Language and System Dynamics that will assist me in my research for my graduation thesis.
What is your career plan?
Questions on career plans always give me anxiety ;). If you ask me my dream -my simple dream is to work for community development- serve myself for the upliftment of women, for those who are vulnerable, towards a sustainable environment- something that I believe would not bore me out ever. And while I'm at it, I want to travel and explore places as much as I can. That's how I want to see myself in the far future. But for now, I do not want to settle into a job just yet. I want to pursue higher studies and get myself enrolled in a good grad school (got my fingers crossed for this).
Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?
The only time I had been overseas was for a week-long high school exchange program to Japan offered by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) before coming here again to study at RU -this time for 4 years. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. I have been fortunate to grow in a very sheltered environment. I never had to worry about getting things done as a child. This nature of codependency in me was the biggest concern of all - the idea of living on your own at a place where I could not reach out to my parents and friends immediately was nerve wrecking. Other than that, the idea of meeting new people who would not exactly represent a similar culture as me, or speak the language I used, was something that kicked in my social anxiety. But I'd be lying if I don't say that there was a bit of excitement involved in thinking about all this, too.
Did you get help from your siblings to look for university overseas?
Not really. Honestly, my elder sister and I never thought of pursuing an undergraduate degree overseas. So no, my sister was happily busy working in Delhi when I decided to apply and study abroad. As I mentioned earlier, it was my wonderful Japanese language teacher who encouraged me to apply overseas. While I like to be in control of my own decisions, knowing my parents' take on my decisions is very important for me. My parents were very supportive of this decision to apply at RU, especially my mother, who always reminded me to start my college applications early. I am also thankful to my English language teacher and my entire high school who assisted me in my application through and through.
How are the relationship with your supervisor and classmates?
I am not exactly an extrovert, and hanging out in large circles is not my thing. But I am fortunate to have met some great people who I'm so proud to call my friends. They've made this journey so much more interesting.
CRPS is a small community, and the good part about this is that it makes it really easy to build strong relationships, especially with your mentors. I have met amazing professors during this journey, who have always helped me in different ways. Their support and care do not end with the class or course. They have assisted me with the problems I have dealt with over this time, and I'll be always grateful for that. I am so thankful for my seminar professor, Professor Hicks, who is guiding me in my graduation thesis. She has been contacting me through emails, sending me great ideas and has been checking on me all this time. There are many professors like her, and having such wholesome relations with your mentors is what makes my life at RU so much more beautiful.
Why don't you explore more about the faculty at CRPS Major?
Have you lived in a Dorm?
Yes, I have! I would definitely recommend any newly-enrolled student to choose the dorm- at least for the first year of their college life. I spent a good 2 years at the OIC I-House and reflecting on that time, I realize that it made my life in Japan so much easier. I had Resident Mentors, who assisted me in all the complicated stuff such as applying for bank accounts, guiding you around in the neighbourhood or the city. Living with people made me a lot more open-minded, patient and understanding. I talk about my dorm life in detail in one of the blog posts. You can check that out!
How is your life at RU?
Life at RU has been eventful, to say the least. I've met many people, learnt about various cultures, been introduced to topics I knew nothing about, worked with people with different mindsets, handled many problems and all this time I have been doing everything on my own! RU and Japan have challenged me to stretch my limits. I sometimes surprise myself by doing things I never imagined I could do. It's amazing how much I have transformed as a person in almost 3 years of my life. I just wish to grow each day and become a better version of myself. I owe this personal growth to RU and Japan.
What do you cook often?
I enjoy cooking, I cook almost all meals every day and try bringing my lunch box to the college. Since I am trying to become vegan, I have been experimenting with my cooking skills, trying out new recipes. I cook Indian almost all the time, so all my recipes would need Indian masalas and ingredients that you either have to bring from India or get through online shopping. There are special e-commerce sites for Indian food.
Message from Sakshi
Thank you for stopping by and reading this. I hope you got something interesting out of it. When you get here, meet me? All the best of luck!