Crying won't get you anywhere.
The experience of taking a courageous step forward
It will definitely come to life someday

Graduates of the Department of International Studies, Faculty of International Studies

Ayumi Masuda

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A job where you can witness "growth" firsthand.

I currently work for a company that provides experiential educational training programs for university, junior college, and vocational school students in Japan. I moved to Los Angeles when I started my job, and this is my 11th year here.

As a producer, I plan and manage training programs tailored to our clients' needs. Most programs last from one week to one month. I select training locations that our clients wouldn't normally have access to, negotiating with the host organizations to provide learning opportunities. I also provide meticulous support that can only be offered by being on-site, such as matching interns and homestays, and handling emergencies.

This is a scene from when I collaborated with a professor from UCLA's costume design department to produce a "Hollywood Design Contest" for fashion school students.

Many Japanese people struggle to express their opinions clearly at first. They tend to have difficulty speaking English fluently, or even if they can speak it, their opinions lack depth. Many Japanese students feel discouraged when they encounter a "gap" during discussions with local students. However, I have also seen many students who work desperately hard to change themselves. Witnessing their transformation in appearance and way of thinking, and their growth firsthand in a short period of time, is the most rewarding aspect of this job and what motivates me.

I'm using my bitter experiences from studying abroad to benefit my work.

My hometown is a very international town, and my family used to host students from the United States, Australia, and South Korea. My parents didn't speak English, but I was determined to be able to converse with them, so I started learning English from a young age. I'm also drawn to Hollywood movies, and I've watched "Back to the Future" about 300 times.

I had a stronger yearning to go abroad than most people, but when I studied abroad in high school, I hit a wall with the language barrier. I cried every day, to the point that my host family couldn't bear to see me like that. They encouraged me, saying, "Crying won't get you anywhere, so you have to try your best," and that's when I finally managed to change my mindset.

Thanks to joining the soccer club on a whim, I was able to improve my English skills to the point where I have no problems with everyday communication. However, I still regret that I wasted three months of my one-year study abroad period. I don't want anyone to make the same mistake I did. That feeling is what drives me in my current job.

I want you to gain experiences that you can only get in America.

J. F. Oberlin University At that, I learned Korean as a second foreign language. I was steadily improving my language skills and planned to study abroad in Korea, but there was a university I really wanted to attend. Unfortunately, it wasn't a partner university, but when I consulted with them saying 'I really wanted to go,' they immediately signed an agreement. I was impressed by the generous support.

To be honest, I was J. F. Oberlin University and studied only the Area I was interested in. Even in my selfishness, the teachers listened to me and actually broadened my interests. I believe the school culture that encourages your desire to take on new challenges is what makes J. F. Oberlin University so appealing.

I don't have a specific career goal for the future. That's because I genuinely enjoy my current job. As long as I'm physically and mentally healthy, I want as many students as possible to gain experiences that can only be obtained in America.

Given the current global situation, it seems that more and more people are thinking, "I don't need to go to America." Certainly, there are many countries in the world, and we can learn a lot from the strengths of each. However, there is still so much that Japanese people can learn from America, such as its power and energy to create new things, and its unique culture. To everyone who has read this article, please come to America! We'll be waiting for you!

Ayumi Masuda

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Having grown up in a global environment since childhood, she has studied abroad in English-speaking countries and South Korea. She currently lives in Los Angeles and works for a company that provides experiential educational training programs for Japanese university, junior college, and vocational school students.

Interview date:
*This interview was conducted in May 2025.

Crying won't get you anywhere.The experience of taking a courageous step forwardIt will definitely come to life someday

Main content

A job where you can witness "growth" firsthand.

I'm using my bitter experiences from studying abroad to benefit my work.

I want you to gain experiences that you can only get in America.

Related content

Crying won't get you anywhere.
The experience of taking a courageous step forward
It will definitely come to life someday