Journey of Growth at SIPS: Deepening Reflection and Shaping Direction

Leung Cheuk Yan, also known as Minnie, was born and raised in Hong Kong. During her undergraduate years, she participated in a Community Organizing Internship, where she discovered how art can be a powerful tool to express ideas, foster dialogue, and raise awareness of social justice issues. This experience sparked her interest in critical understanding and inspired her to explore how academic learning could be meaningfully connected to real-life practice. Drawing to SIPS program’s focus on international relations and peace studies, she saw the program as a natural extension of her undergraduate studies on social sciences. Additionally, her time at a Japanese language school, where she studied in a multicultural environment, also deepened her appreciation for diverse perspectives and motivated her to engage with social justice from a more global standpoint. Because of these experiences, Minnie decided to enroll in SIPS and felt that it was the right place for her to continue her studies.

At SIPS, Minnie encountered both challenges and growth. A defining moment came during her first class with her thesis supervisor, when she was asked, “What is education, and what does education mean to you?” This question prompted deep self-reflection and guided her toward a stronger interest in critical and transformative education. Through this process, Minnie developed a greater awareness of the role of the individual in creating change and gained clarity in her academic and personal direction as well. Besides that, she remains deeply grateful for her time in SIPS as part of the sixth cohort, cherishing the friendships, meaningful conversations, and lasting memories formed at Soka University.

Currently, Minnie is working as a conference organizer in Japan, where she actively applies the values she cultivated at SIPS in her professional life. She views dialogue, inclusion, and global citizenship as practices embedded in creating spaces for meaningful exchange across cultures. She felt that this is especially relevant in Japan’s MICE industry, where international conferences bring together people from different cultural, academic and professional backgrounds.

Minnie’s message to current and prospective SIPS students is: To challenge yourself and stay open to new perspectives! SIPS is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about reflecting on yourself, growing through dialogue and learning from others. I feel this connects closely with the humanistic education approach and Dr. Daisaku Ikeda’s peace philosophy, which values human dignity, inner growth and mutual understanding. Even when the journey feels uncertain, each challenge can become an important part of your personal and academic development.