The Path I Found Through Entrance Exams

Having felt uneasy with Japan’s highly structured school curriculum, where students follow a predetermined course of study, the opportunity arose to attend a high school in Vancouver, Canada, where an older brother was already studying. Although there was little confidence in English ability or international experience at the time, the decision was made to embrace a new environment.
At first, even everyday conversations were challenging due to the language barrier. However, with the kind support of teachers, friends, and their families, adapting to life in Canada gradually became easier. The local education system offered the freedom to choose subjects based on personal interests, leading to a focus on STEM fields such as robotics and programming. Learning extended beyond classroom lectures to hands-on projects and practical assignments, making the educational experience both engaging and rewarding.
Surrounded by Vancouver’s abundant natural beauty, weekends were often spent relaxing with friends, enjoying picnics in parks, and studying together.

Initially, I was also considering attending a university overseas after high school. However, living in Canada gave me an opportunity to gain an objective perspective on the value of Japanese culture and how it is perceived abroad. Through this experience, I developed a strong desire to share Japanese culture with the world, which led me to decide to return to Japan and study international business at a Japanese university.
At first, I applied for a September-entry program at another public university. However, due to the limited number of places available and insufficient preparation time, I was unsuccessful. After that, I set my sights on APU’s Returnee Student Admission for April enrollment, as it offered both the academic focus and learning environment I was looking for.
Looking ahead, I hope to start my own business from the ground up. I chose the College of International Management because I believe it provides an ideal environment for expanding global connections while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in international business.

During the application period, I had already graduated from high school and spent my days studying intensely while living with my family in Japan. Since I chose to apply through the English-based admissions process, I sought advice from friends in Canada for essay preparation. After writing about my dreams and future goals, I asked them to review my essays and used their feedback to refine my ideas from an objective perspective.
The most challenging part of the process was preparing for the interview. Because it was difficult to predict the types of questions that would be asked, I first familiarized myself with the university’s admission policy and vision, then considered what kind of students the university was looking for and prepared accordingly. The recorded interview format was also completely new to me, and I initially felt uneasy about not being interviewed face-to-face.
To improve my English communication skills, I made use of AI. Using my essays as a starting point, I instructed the AI to ask questions from a critical-thinking perspective and practiced discussing my ideas in depth. Although I did not feel particularly confident after completing the examination process, I was thrilled to learn that I had been admitted to APU.

Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture, where I was born and raised, is known as one of Japan’s leading centers for bag production. However, the decline of local industries due to an aging population has become a major challenge in the region. Growing up, I never really saw this local industry as something to be particularly proud of. However, living in Canada allowed me to witness firsthand the popularity and quality of Japanese products, which inspired me to support the local industry that has been an important part of my community through global business.
Through my studies in the College of International Management, I hope to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve this goal while further developing my English proficiency.

Many students may not yet have a clear idea of what they want to do in the future, but I encourage them to take on new challenges with confidence. I myself was quite introverted until junior high school and was not very comfortable talking to people. However, challenging myself to attend high school in Canada completely changed my life, and now I genuinely enjoy interacting with others.
Rather than being afraid of setbacks or failure, I believe it is important to take that first step forward. By doing so, you will likely discover a new side of yourself that you never knew existed.