Maeve Gennett - Fall 2022

I would like to thank you for your incredibly generous scholarship. When I received my letter of acceptance, an incredible weight was lifted off my shoulders knowing I would be able to focus more on my studies without worrying as much about rent for my dormitory, and other financial necessities. I had been chasing opportunities to come back to Japan since my short study abroad trip in high school, and I never imagined that I would be lucky enough to go abroad with a large chunk of expenses covered. It is an extreme honor, and I am incredibly grateful. 

Attending Waseda University has been a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience full of personal triumphs which I never could have imagined back home. Everyday I feel as though I learn something new about myself and about Japan. Between attending new classes, meeting new people, and working on my Japanese skills, I feel like I’ve grown into a completely new person since I got on that plane three months ago. I can proudly feel as though my hard work has paid off; however, being someone who is always looking towards the horizon, I’m already thinking about how I can return to Japan for my career later. Since I am studying at Waseda’s college of Culture, Media and Society, I aim to pursue media translation specifically, and work as a language/cultural specialist between Japanese and English media localization. The path is not clear quite yet, but I will keep pushing towards improving myself and improving my Japanese to make my dreams come true. For now, I’m thankful everyday just for being here.

- Maeve Gennett