The East Asian Studies program at the University of Arizona not only challenged me academically, but provided me with a space to learn, grow, and explore. The small classroom environment I experienced in Japanese classes enabled me to become close with both professors and students, allowing me to make connections I still value deeply. My foreign exchange program with Waseda University helped me develop my Japanese language abilities, a skillset that continues to be valuable in my work. I began my work experience at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima, where my Japanese language skills furthered my ability to contribute to the foundation’s atomic bomb radiation health effects research. This experience has translated well to my work at NASA, where our international partners include Japanese research and space organizations.
