Being greatly inspired by students as a coordinator

As someone involved in running the program, I strongly feel that it provides a wide range of support beyond scholarship assistance. This frequently comes up in comments from the students themselves. In my role as a point of contact, I quite often get feedback such as “I had experiences during my training on the East Coast that I couldn't have had in my student life” and “I was able to talk with my mentor about my future and resolve my concerns.” For students, it seems to be an opportunity to deepen their thinking about their goals and career paths.

Based on these reports from students, I'd say if you have 10 people, you'll have 10 different learning experiences and epiphanies. Many students show amazing growth in a short period of time, and I myself have been greatly inspired by them. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work on the program.

The COVID-19 pandemic is subsiding, so I hope we can increase the number of opportunities for face-to-face exchange, including between alumni of the program.

Encouraging exposure to different values and broadening of horizons through study abroad

I'm from a small town, and when I was a child I thought that my environment was representative of all society. However, when I went to university, I was exposed to different values, and my experience overseas taught me that there were options out there that I had never even considered. The experience has become a great asset for me, and I hope that many people will seize the opportunity to study abroad because I believe that putting yourself in a new environment can greatly expand your possibilities in life.

We will continue to cooperate with Sumitomo Corporation, which has many overseas connections and resources, to provide a meaningful scholarship program, so I hope people will take advantage of it.

Three encounters during the program now a great personal asset

The first thing I gained from participating in the program was meeting fellow students that received the scholarship. During the East Coast training in the United States, I met a fellow student with the remarkable ambition of becoming an astronaut. I also got to have many late night discussion with wonderful peers. These experiences in the program were a significant turning point in my thinking about my own future.

In addition, I had the opportunity to meet various people during my study abroad, including Sumitomo Corporation employees, entrepreneurs, and people from NGOs and NPOs. This helped me realize there was a wider range of options available to me than I had imagined when I was an undergraduate student. I feel that these experiences have led to my current choice to pursue a doctoral degree at a U.S. university and work as a researcher.

Actually, coming to the United States and meeting people with diverse backgrounds likewise had a significant impact on me. It gave me the opportunity to reassess my own unconscious biases for measuring the world.

Through these encounters, my dream for the future is now becoming a university faculty member with my own laboratory, something I had never imagined I would do before studying abroad. I hope to help students reach their full potential regardless of their background or gender.

Study abroad a great opportunity to acquire the ability to think and act proactively

Participating in this program and receiving an international education exposed me to diverse values and allowed me to see society from a different perspective than before. I was also able to develop a proactive approach to my work by thinking about why I was doing what I was doing, rather than just doing it because I was told to do it. This has greatly benefited me in my current job. I also found it extremely informative to understand what social goals people at Sumitomo Corporation pursue through their work. I truly feel that studying abroad provides an opportunity to gain a new perspective on things, so I encourage you to go for it if you have even the slightest interest in it.

Working with the SC Sustainability team on this program has been a great honor for me. It has been one of the most rewarding CSR programs that I have had the opportunity to work on in my 30 years with SCOA. It was the first time for SCOA and SC to collaborate together from the beginning, and design a CSR program that requires cross border teamwork between Japan and U.S.

I am proud of the success stories among the alumni, because I know SCOA's interaction with them had impact. There are young entrepreneurs, college professors, government and non-government officials, and business professionals.

I realize their U.S. studies influenced their academic futures, but I think their visit with SCOA inspired them to consider their future from a much broader perspective. For this reason we try to provide an action packed week with experiences that introduces them to a variety of culture and peoples, outside of their comfort zones. We designed an agenda that exposes the students to once-in-lifetime opportunities and allows them to build lasting relationships with people they meet, while having fun at the same time.

It's been rewarding to witness the transformation of these students over the 10 years. I am fortunate to have met every student that has gone through the program so far, at all different stages. I have judged their winning essays, attended the SC awards ceremony in Japan, hosted them during their one week visit, and met them upon their return to Japan. It amazes me to see how they change and gain greater self-confidence, and a sense of global curiosity. I know some even changed career choices due to their experience in the U.S.

The mission of the SC TOMODACHI Scholarship program was originally to inspire young Japanese students to become leaders, and I can say that it has succeeded. We should be proud of the many lives we have enriched through this program.

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas(SCOA)
Vice President and Assistant Chief Strategy Officer

Jewelle Yamada