Journey of Growth at SIPS: Weaving Words and Worlds with Humanistic Values

Liew Yi Jie, also known as YJ, is a graduate of the 6th batch of the SIPS program from Malaysia. With an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Yi Jie’s academic interests have always revolved around the social fabric that connects people, especially how individuals from diverse backgrounds interact across different spaces and contexts. Drawn by Soka University’s humanistic education approach and Dr. Daisaku Ikeda’s peace philosophy, Yi Jie enrolled in SIPS to better understand how global issues like peace and international relations shape everyday life.

SIPS provided Yi Jie with ample time to grow and settle into a version of herself that she feels truly satisfied with, something she is deeply grateful for. She embraced both academic challenges and personal growth. The wide-ranging coursework, from peace education to international human rights, helped shape her worldview and perspectives in her thesis on metropolitan parks and social cohesion, the highlight of her masters’ journey.

Currently, Yi Jie is working as a freelance translator, building bridges between people and cultures by transcending the many differences that set people apart so that they can share in something they all love. She views translation as a powerful act of connection, one that requires empathy, compassion, and a humanistic approach. These values, cultivated at SIPS, continue to guide Yi Jie’s professional and personal path.

To current and prospective SIPS students, YJ offers a message: It is important that we embrace the definite aspects of humanity—come to terms with our imperfections, acknowledge our limits, and continue to kindle curiosity within ourselves. During her time at Soka University and SIPS, she was fortunate to meet so many new people and immersed herself in many new experiences, which gives her the chance to broaden her worldview through conversations and dialogue. It is all of these that she could look deeper into herself and reaffirm what it truly means to be human.