What inspired you to work for World Class Programs?
I have always loved Japan, its culture, and language. World Class Programs is unique in that it offers a study abroad program for high school students.
Furthermore, it focuses on the enriching experiential learning model in which students and staff learn valuable principles and applications hands-on, instead of just in the classroom reading a textbook.
In this way, it tests their survival skills and helps develop confidence in leadership that is applicable and necessary at any stage in a young adolescent's career.
This is me at the Hiroshima International Peace Day Festival
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I have developed a stronger sense of responsibility. When I was traveling by myself, I often became lost and had to navigate my way back.
Now that I have had other students with me, I have taken greater caution and care to be aware of where I am and how to travel between places more efficiently.
In fact, I have even come to use public transportation more regularly in a country that does not necessarily promote or appreciate it, with high accessibility of personal transportation.
I love traveling and traveling loves me!
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
World Class Programs identifies itself as a business, but it is so much more. With the friendships you develop, it becomes a global family!
This is something I regard as an invaluable opportunity—I was so blessed to know that we not only made it work, but that the students felt it was the best thing they had ever done up to that point in their lives!
Can you share about a time you felt particularly connected with World Class Programs’ mission?
I was especially proud of my team when the CEO and I were riding on a ferris wheel together with the students on one of our last nights. We rode in a private car and he shared with me that he was really glad that I was there.
I had lacked some confidence going into the trip, but I knew that the mission was so much greater than myself and I wanted to help make it a reality for him, myself, and all of us.
I know he worked so hard to make this happen, but he assured me that we all made our contributions to developing this vision of inviting students to step out of their comfort zones and explore the wide world around them. That is the mission of World Class Programs.
Feeding deer in Nara Park!
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hear many stories from returning students about memories that will last for a lifetime, so I will answer this question by telling a story about one that I remember most fondly:
On our last night of the trip, we all ascended Sky Tree precisely at sunset. The students had no idea that we had planned to go at that specific time for that specific reason. As we prepared to say goodbye to our beloved experience in Japan and to one another, we watched as the sun set over the city of Tokyo and the lights brightened and gave it new life.
We all became very sentimental by what we had witnessed as everything drew to a beautiful close, and we promised that we would never let our experiences fade over our time in Japan—this place we all began to call home together.
This was the best story I heard from a returning student: their time in Japan was so impactful, and this very moment brought everything together to such a beautiful close, which made the whole trip last in their memory forever.
World Class students and I exploring Osaka Castle!
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It is very important to understand a new culture, and a great way to do that is to travel abroad. At World Class Programs, with so many opportunities to experience and learn about a language and culture outside of one's native land, the possibilities of becoming a new and more well-rounded person are endless!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means gaining experiences that stay with you for a lifetime. I have always believed that success is not enshrined in making a profit. It is about believing in the mission and sharing it with others to the point that they see why it is crucial for society and the world around us.
Good things do not come from making a buck, they come when people believe in what they are doing and making a positive impact on others. The journey to Japan did not end when we left after two weeks. It remains fresh in our minds and hearts and continues to be a core axiom of who we have become.
