This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus.
This week’s campus cutie is Risa Yamaguchi! Risa is my good friend, sister, and partner in crime. Although we became very close during our study abroad in California, I was actually intimidated by her before I got to know her! Because of her beauty and maturity, it can be a bit intimidating to talk to her in the beginning. However, once you get to know her, you’ll see that she is the sweetest girl with the biggest heart. She was kind enough to spare some time for an interview as Her Campus Waseda’s Campus Cutie.
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself!
I was born and raised in Japan. I went to all girls’ boarding school until high school, when I decided to study abroad in Connecticut.
2. What influenced you to go to an American school by yourself?I had always wanted to acquire English. I knew then that taking English courses in Japan was not enough for me to be fluent. I needed a challenge. Even though it was one of the most memorable time of my life, everything was hard for me. Of course, language was one obstacle. On top that, it was the first time I had ever experienced in being a minority. Living in Japan and being Japanese, I had never even realized that such thing occurred. However, my boarding school in Connecticut only had a number of students who were Asian. So, there were certainly stereotypes and that was tough to overcome.
3. It seems like you have gone thorough a difficult, but valuable experience. What made you to go back to the U.S. for the second time in college? Why did you choose California this time?I wanted to see the other side of the US. Having to experience both East and West coast, I think I prefer the East! I am a person who likes to keep things busy. California is beautiful, but I discovered that it wasn’t the place for me.
4. Along with your international experience, I hear that you have done a volunteering activity in Cambodia. Is this true?
Yes, I volunteered in teaching English to local Cambodian students for two weeks. This decision was also out of the blue, but I had a lot of reasons to go there. First, I wanted to test myself in a place that was completely opposite from Japan and the US. Indeed, Cambodia was nothing like the places I lived in. Second, I wanted to have a chance to meet people with different nationalities. It was certainly an ideal place because the volunteers came from all over the world. The actual volunteer work of teaching was very exciting, but it was not easy at first. There were no teachers, materials, nor textbooks. So, I had to come up with my own style of teaching, which was done through games and music. I actually taught them “Kira-Kira-Boshi” or “Twinkle Twinkle Litter Star” in both Japanese and English. In the end, I had a lot of fun in getting to know the students.
5. You seem to be very good at maintaining a healthy lifestyle. What is your secret?I do not really have a secret, but if anything, I always wake up early whether if I like it or not. Sometimes, I wish I could sleep in, but my body does not allow it. Now that I think about it, I do benefit a lot from this habit. When you wake up early, you have more time to relax. Exercise wise, I am not doing anything special. I used to dance ballet, but not anymore. I am thinking about starting again though.
6. You are very caring and loyal to your friends and family. How do you maintain a good relationship with them?I have always been very close to my family. Since I am an only child, they tend to get worried sometimes (especially during my first study abroad in Connecticut), but they always trust and support me in every way. My friends are also very important to me. I always feel blessed to have such wonderful people around me. And I am happiest when I am sharing good food (=cheese haha) with my friends! I promise to always be there for them no matter what.
7. It is almost time for job-hunting season, also known as “shukatsu.” Are you ready?
Shukatsu can be stressful, but I think I have learned to enjoy it in some way. It is the only time where I can really observe myself. Trying to figure out who you are can be difficult, but it can also be fun. So, I am doing my best to find a perfect match for the company and me.
That is such an inspirational advice to all the students who are struggling through this hard time. Thank you, Risa for sharing what an amazing person you are!