Week Two Writing Assignment

I want to get involve in development cooperation of developing countries. Before entering ICU, I have never thought I will engage in such work someday. I would like to be a flight attendant since I was a junior high school student. However, I completely changed my mind. The reason why I hope to cooperate on development is I took the class, “Globalization and Society” in the spring term. Professor Oishi gave me new points of view of developing countries. I was shocked and impressed by her story. After the spring term, I was interested in “developing countries” and “development cooperation.” However, my interests were too abstract, so I did not know what I want to do and what I should do. This condition has not changed yet. Thus, I try to consider my short and long term goal through this week assignment.

Short-term goal

One day, I went to the academic center, and I talked with an adviser. He told me “You should decide how you learn development study because there are many ways to approach.” Thus, I have to decide it at the end of the second year.

My short-term goal is deciding how I approach development cooperation.

There are three possible steps to achieve the short-term goal.

First, I should gain information and knowledge from books, journals, news, lectures etc. I have not read those relating development cooperation ever, so they will help me expand my thoughts and image.

Second, I should talk with professors who study development from various points. I will listen to valuable stories from them because professors have worked in NGO, NPO, UN, governments and so on. In addition, they have learned their major fields for a long time, so they will give me clues and advices through dialogue.

Third, I listen to junior or senior students who major development Studies or other subject relating it. Especially, senior students have to write graduation thesis, so they research and consider very well. Therefore, I feel their inspiration, and they will　stimulate me .

I will follow the three steps, and decide to satisfactory major.


Long-term goal
My long-term goal is to assist education in developing countries in the future. There are many steps to fulfill my dream. First, I should decide how I approach development support. I will mention the first step below. Second, I should acquire language skills such as English, French, Spanish and so on. In particularly, I want to focus on education in African countries, so I should master English and French. Third, I should absorb knowledge including relating development support, international relationship, international economics, political situations, history, what people in developing need and so on. There are many kinds of knowledge, so I have to focus on one or two, and then I should master them. Fourth, I want to go abroad to master my specialty. Especially, I hope to go and study in United Kingdom because it is one of the most famous for development Studies. In addition to this, I may share and consider development with students who are interested in it as well as me. Fifth, if I can, I want to participate in Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers because I want to see actual condition in developing countries and consider what I can support for them.

Finally, I hope to work in NGO, NPO, JICA or company relating development support.

I have to stretch a lot of tasks step by step to achieve my goal. However, I will never give up and make my dream come true!