【WHY SOKA FILA】-The reason why I chose SOKA FILA-
Ms. Lie Ariga is a 3rd year student of the Faculty of International Liberal Arts (FILA) from Brazil. She shared why she chose Soka University and FILA, and her thoughts about FILA.
Profile
Name: Lie Ariga
Year Enrolled in FILA: 2022
Grade: 3rd year
Home Country: Brazil
Hobbies: Embroidery, reading manga
Why did you choose Soka University and FILA?
n 2016, I had the opportunity to visit Japan with my family. We were able to visit the university campus, and I had the chance to meet with several students, one who was a FILA junior at the time. She talked to me about the courses and its attributes; how FILA was a mind-broadening major and held a global perspective of value creation. Instantly, I was captivated by the idea of studying at Soka. I also fell in love with the campus; it was like nothing I had ever seen before. By the end of our visit, I wrote my name and date on a piece of paper at the International Affairs Office and made a vow that I would grow to become a Soka University student and retrieve that piece of paper one day. I was successfully admitted to FILA and started my student life in April of 2022.
How did you research when choosing a university?
The Liberal Arts major actually does not exist back in Brazil, so the first time I heard about it really was during my visit to Japan in 2016. As I was already determined to study at Soka, I did not search for other universities. However, I had to research many of the requirements asked for the FILA admission application. For example, the TOEFL iBT exam, which I had never taken before at the time. Moreover, because the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, many of the procedures that should be simple were over complicated. Thus, the whole process was definitely not easy and had many barriers along the way. Even so, I can confirm that the final outcome made everything worth the struggle.
What are your impressions of student life at FILA so far?
I love studying at FILA! Of course, it is not always a bed of roses. I had trouble adjusting to the amount of assignments and readings we were supposed to do during the first year, and some of the mandatory classes were certainly not my favorites. However, I feel that being a student at FILA is extremely fulfilling! I get to study a variety of different subjects, such as sociology, economics, international business and more from a very exclusive approach from the professors. Now that I am a third year student, I am getting started on my focused research, conducted at our seminar classes and I am very excited about how my final outcome will turn out to be. Besides that, I also get to study Japanese and I can feel my growth as each semester goes by, together with a great sense of accomplishment! I love that everyone in FILA is welcoming; the students and the faculty members, so I believe that all of those enrolled in FILA are able to find their own place of belonging.
What is your future plan after graduation from FILA?
I am highly determined to pursue a career in the translation field, but in order to do that, I first have to improve my Japanese. Thus, after my graduation, I want to continue studying Japanese language, so I am planning on applying to Soka University’s Non-Degree program, in which I would be able to study the language at a much deeper level and achieve the proficiency I need for my future (a JLPT level of N1). I am still not quite sure whether I should apply for a Japanese company right after I accomplish my language proficiency in order to gain some work experience or if I should go straight to a media translation school in Tokyo. Nonetheless, I still have some time to make this decision, so I will most definitely think about it carefully. The one thing I am certain of is that I want to stay in Japan after graduation.
Please give a message to prospective international students!
If you are wondering whether or not you should apply, I say please do so! FILA at Soka University is a relatively new faculty so there might be a few bumps in the road, but that also means that FILA is open to many new improvements at every moment. Moreover, the international students’ community is so very welcoming! If you are ever going through tough times, I can reassure you that there will always be someone willing to help you along the way. I strongly believe that FILA is the place where you get to bloom as the best version of yourself most naturally. Make the most out of the four years you will get to experience because they do fly by! Don’t lose sight of what is important to you, make lifelong connections, and don’t forget how far you have come! I am sure the story you will create will be the most beautiful of them all.
