Four years of devoting myself to learning, getting to know myself, and building my confidence

During my four years at Otemae University, the thing I worked hardest on was studying. Although I was devoted to club activities in middle and high school, I never felt any significant success. I enrolled without much confidence, so I thought, "Maybe if I study seriously, I'll gain more confidence." With that in mind, I decided to study Psychology.

What particularly attracted me was "group Psychology." It was fascinating to think about how people's behavior changes when they are in one-on-one situations and when they are in a group, while connecting it to real life. I originally started studying Psychology because I wanted to understand others, but I gradually became aware of the importance of knowing myself, and I feel that changing my desire to "know myself" is also a sign of growth.
Learning about group Psychology has encouraged me to try analyzing myself by recording myself speaking and reassessing my habitual gestures and catchphrases. I think my knowledge of Psychology has naturally led to a better understanding of myself.

I also took advantage of the "crossover system" that allows me to study across faculties and majors, and actively participated in classes in tourism, theater, information, accounting, and other subjects in addition to Psychology. In a theater class in Faculty of Architecture & Arts I tried my hand at acting with students from other faculties, which was very stimulating. I also became interested in obtaining qualifications, and am currently continuing to study for real estate and bookkeeping.
By experiencing a variety of learning experiences, I was able to objectively assess my aptitudes, such as "I'm good at law" or "I'm not so good at numbers." I think these experiences gradually led to my confidence.

My part-time job as an IT support staff member on campus, which I started in my second year, was also a great opportunity for me to grow. My main job is to provide advice to students who are unsure about using computers and help them solve their problems.
To be honest, I've always felt a bit uncomfortable using computers, but when I found out about this part-time job, I thought, "I won't know until I try," and "Because I'm not good at it, I'll be able to understand the feelings of people who are in trouble!", so I decided to apply.

When we actually started, we found that even things that were written in the connection manual could be difficult for people who are not good at using computers. Because I was also weak in this area, I think I was able to use my experience to provide support that was close to the other person.
Also, being in a position to teach others for the first time allowed me to improve my communication methods and developed the habit of thinking about how to best communicate with others. I believe this skill will be useful even after I enter the workforce.

During my job search, I didn't limit myself to a specific industry, but visited a variety of companies. I narrowed my search to jobs that involved interacting with people, such as sales and marketing, and even participated in an internship at a bank. Although most of the jobs were in industries that were not directly related to Psychology, many people were interested in the wide range of learning and experience I could receive.

As a result, I received job offers from several companies and decided to join Mitsubishi Paper Mills. Paper continues to evolve and has become an important part of our daily lives, medicine, and industry, such as paper products used for sterilization in medical settings. Our company also develops and sells medical masks. I was attracted to the idea of a job that would allow me to contribute to people's lives through papermaking and product development.
After joining the company, I would like to first become a salesperson who can properly communicate the appeal of our products while also being able to understand the customer's perspective. My dream is to one day become someone who can propose new materials to customers.
I would also like to be involved in human resource development in the future, but I would like to think carefully about specific goals, such as "the kind of person I want to become," while I am working.

I entered our university through a designated school recommendation, but it wasn't actually my first choice. However, by taking advantage of the crossover system and spending four years boldly pursuing things that interested me, I gained confidence and was able to successfully complete my job search. I truly feel that the great thing about our university is that it provides an environment where you can try your hand at a variety of learning experiences.
Another attraction of our university is the closeness of the relationships with the professors. I have fond memories of the professor I met during summer school in my first year still remembering my name in the second semester of my second year. Professor Nakajima, my seminar teacher, provided videos so I could study at home and patiently answered my questions outside of class, which was also a great support in helping me continue my studies.
For my graduation thesis, I was inspired by Professor Nakajima's lectures on stress and chose the theme "Otaku and Happiness." Stress can be a cause of unhappiness, but conversely, I would like to investigate the "factors of happiness," and so I am conducting my research.

Over the past four years, by constantly trying new things that interested me, I have transformed from someone who lacked confidence into someone who is able to take on new challenges in learning. I am sure that the lessons and experiences I have gained at university will support me in the path I take in the future.