MAJOR: Software Engineering
PROGRAM: SJSU Exchange – Kyushu University, Japan
EMAIL: manueljaime.elepano@sjsu.edu
BIO: I’m a 5th Year Software Engineering Major who also does a lot of work in education/mentorship, working as a swim coach and a tutor with Peer Connections. In the early stages I explored studying abroad due to curiosity, partly because a friend at the time has told me about a similar experience. I’d always been interested in immersing myself in Japanese culture as more than a tourist and this was a prime opportunity to do so while keeping up with academics. As my program approached, I’d also hit a point in my life where I began to stagnate and so I used my opportunity to study abroad to reset and regain my passion for learning and exploration.
LEADER, VOLUNTEER, OR JOB EXPERIENCES: As mentioned prior, I’ve worked various jobs in mentorship and guidance. I’ve worked for 2 years as a Swim Coach with Pacifica Sea Lions Swim Club, am in my 4th semester working with SJSU Peer Connections as a Peer Educator, and also worked with SJSU Research Foundation in the Kyushu University ELEP Program as a conversation partner. I also had the role of a Martial Arts Instructor at Shaolin Kenpo Karate for over 5 years where I worked with students ranging from as young as age 5 to as old as 60. I can confidently say I have diverse experience in a leadership role, both in a volunteer and professional capacity, working with people of various age ranges (Often College Age) as well as various cultural backgrounds.
GOALS: Once again echoing previous responses, my primary goal was shift of perspective. Both to help with my stagnation, as well as break out of my cultural bubble, I wanted to truly immerse myself in a new culture: speak the native language, converse with natives and explore their ways of thinking, adapt to a new way of life. I can say that my experience was truly eye opening as I not only learned about another culture, but deepened my appreciation for my own native and ethnic culture (American and Filipino respectively). By speaking to Japanese natives, I both heard their stories as well as gained insight from their perspective on my home cultures, allowing me to more intentionally evaluate my viewpoints. Furthermore, I gained additional insight speaking to international students from other cultures, some I never expected to experience!
I biked the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road, a 75 km route connecting the main Japanese Island of Honshu (at Onomichi, Hiroshima) to Shikoku (at Imabari, Ehime)
ACADEMICS: Due to language restrictions, my class selection was quite limited. I studied in the Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation. I was able to explore subjects outside my primary major and it’s inspired some interesting ideas for future projects. In terms of strategies, the classes, due to meeting less and having content divided into more separate classes, I actually found my workload to be much lighter. If anything, it reinforced my confidence in the amount of experience I’ve accrued to this point. Because of this, I decided I wouldn’t settle for complacency and went above and beyond in my classwork, even working on some side projects to implement some of what I learned and enhance my experience abroad. In the past few days starting back with SJSU classes, this desire to go above and beyond has stuck with me as I’ve become even more focused and motivated to succeed in this last year. Beyond my academics, I’ve been hard at work to improve one of the on-campus clubs I am currently a part of. It’s been tiring work, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made in this short time.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: I’d say the most significant impact of my immersion has been my perspective on international relations. As mentioned, I have a newfound appreciation for both my home country here in the US, as well as my ethnic culture of the Philippines. Before now, I’d never had a huge interest in travelling, but now I want to visit a number of other countries, not to see sights, but see how their people live. From the standards of service, to the way people communicate, the stark differences between Japan and the US became clear to me. I also heard similar insights from my fellow international students from Germany, Thailand and Hong Kong, making me curious to visit these countries and gain firsthand experiences with these nuanced cultural differences.
CAREER: As my workload was much lighter, I was able to more intently reflect and plan. I got back into journaling and meticulous scheduling that revolved daily action items as well as daily reflections. The impact this had on my mood and my productivity was night and day and I hope to carry this over to my last year at SJSU. I also have a new sense of self confidence and independence. I went on numerous solo trips to other cities and constantly found myself spontaneously trying new things and making mistakes along the way. Rather than discouraging me, I found myself wanting to go on more adventures. The allure of the unknown awakened a sense of curiosity within me making want to constantly try new things and go on new adventures, despite the bumps along the road. Now I’m this new semester, when faced with a choice to settle for the comfortable option or try a new, uncertain option, I almost always choose the latter, relishing the chance for a new experience.
PERSONAL GROWTH: Almost everyone who’s welcomed me back has commented on how much “brighter” I am. As mentioned before, I have a new sense of confidence, with the difference from before my term abroad being so significant, many can see it from my face alone. A lot of the specifics have been covered in previous sections, but essentially, my self confidence has improved, as well as my appreciation for everyday life and new experiences. I find myself more inclined to throw caution to the wind in return for new insights and knowledge, we well as more motivated to strive for greater heights, both academically and personally.
IDENTITIES: In my last year, I haven’t done much in terms of my career (applying to internships and the like) due to other circumstances and have also felt inferior to many of my colleagues. Seeing how my skills contributed to the work I did abroad, as well as having the time and space to reflect on myself and my life in the present moment reinforced just how much experience I truly have, and helped reestablish that personal confidence in myself.
FUTURE: As I’ve mentioned many times already, my self confidence has been greatly improved. I feel this is the first step to many opportunities. On that note, my newfound curiosity I feel will also open many more avenues, making me more inclined to not let good opportunities slip by in favor or staying within a comfort zone. Finally, my desire to learn more and more will certainly make me a better person both personally and professionally, allowing for more growth that the already significant development that I’ve already gained up to this point.
TIPS: As I’ve mentioned many times already, my self confidence has been greatly improved. I feel this is the first step to many opportunities. On that note, my newfound curiosity I feel will also open many more avenues, making me more inclined to not let good opportunities slip by in favor or staying within a comfort zone. Finally, my desire to learn more and more will certainly make me a better person both personally and professionally, allowing for more growth that the already significant development that I’ve already gained up to this point.