By Akari Kamiya | 2024-25 Global Classmates Intern
The COVID-19 pandemic struck just as I graduated from junior high school. After my high school entrance ceremony, our homeroom teacher delivered an unexpected announcement:
"For now, don’t come to school”.
My generation spent our entire high school years under the influence of the pandemic. Most of the exciting school events were canceled, leaving only classes and exams, unfortunately. I never imagined that a time would come when “meeting people and communicating” would be discouraged.
It was during this time that I stumbled upon the Global Classmates Program at my high school. I had no strong motivation to join, but one thing was clear in my mind: “There’s no way my high school life will be defined by restrictions. If there’s something I’m allowed to do, I’ll do it.” That determination led me to participate in the program.
Back then, at 16, I never imagined that I would eventually grow to love learning English or become a mentor for new participants in the program.
Born and raised in Japan with no overseas experience, I lived in a rural area where I rarely encountered English speakers. My knowledge of English was limited to the basic grammar I had learned in junior high school, and I had no confidence in my language abilities. However, through the Global Classmates Program, I gradually became exposed to English by interacting with American students via chat. I was amazed by how much more I could communicate when using English. The program provided discussion spaces on various topics, where we shared our thoughts and enjoyed exchanging comments. Additionally, we engaged in cultural exchange through daily posts and even exchanged souvenirs.Connecting with friends in America—whom I would never have met otherwise—was a life-changing experience that significantly boosted my motivation to study English.
In 2021, I had the opportunity to participate in the Global Classmates Summit. At that time, I was the youngest Japanese participant and initially felt unsure about how to contribute to discussions. However, the summit fostered an environment where language barriers did not matter, and I gradually found the confidence to participate actively. Though our interactions were entirely online, I built meaningful friendships with participants from around the world. More importantly, the summit sparked my awareness of social issues, which continues to influence my actions today.
Now, as a university student majoring in law, I am grateful to remain involved with KAC (Kizuna Across Cultures). I have supported high school students in enjoying cross-cultural exchange and broadening their perspectives. Although my role has been small, I am honored to contribute in any way I can.
Even now, I continue to enjoy learning English through extracurricular activities. My fluency is still a work in progress, but I aspire to study and work abroad in the future. With that goal in mind, I will keep striving forward, cherishing the invaluable experiences and connections I gained through KAC.
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