I engaged with ISC as both a participant in the 2006 Japan America Student Conference, as well as the Chairperson of the American Executive Committee for the 2007 JASC. The conference experience itself was fantastic - I got to travel, meet students from all over the U.S. and Japan, and interact with people working in business, government, and academia who I would normally never meet. As Chairperson, ISC was supportive in my decision-making, responded quickly to emails and phone calls, and has served as a positive reference for other opportunities.
The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) changed my life and my career path. The friends I made at the Conference have helped me in so many ways, they inspired, supported, motivated and challenged me more than in any other summer program I ever joined in college or high school! I wanted to be a doctor someday, but at JASC I realized that I had a huge passion for cross-cultural exchange and history. After JASC I sought other opportunities to study Japan and Korea and to promote better understanding between people from different countries. I also published the paper I wrote for my round table on "Social and Cultural Implications of Globalization" in an undergraduate journal. The Dean of my school recommended me and I won a state-level award for my efforts as a representative of my state and country. The professor who recommended me to JASC also recommended me for a Fulbright, a strong start for my future career in East Asian Studies.