{"id":1947,"date":"2025-07-08T09:20:59","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T00:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eikei.ac.jp\/english\/?post_type=alumni&p=1947"},"modified":"2025-12-22T13:19:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T04:19:02","slug":"mitani-hinako","status":"publish","type":"alumni","link":"https:\/\/eikei.ac.jp\/english\/about\/alumni\/mitani-hinako\/","title":{"rendered":"MITANI Hinako"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Four Years of Learning to Accept Myself and Love Who I Am\u2014Even If I Don\u2019t Fit into \u201cNormal\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I first entered Eikei University of Hiroshima, I didn\u2019t have a clear dream or career path in mind. However, I had a strong desire to learn about topics like gender, LGBTQ+, and feminism\u2014areas I had a vague interest in\u2014and to gain the skills needed to contribute to solving the social issues surrounding them. Having dropped out of high school and entered university after more than a year-long gap, I also held a quiet hope that maybe, because I\u2019m not \u201cnormal,\u201d there\u2019s something unique I can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I chose Eikei University of Hiroshima because I was deeply drawn to its unconventional approach to learning. After leaving a prestigious high school due to a mismatch with its culture, I was looking for a place where I could gain practical knowledge and skills\u2014not through one-way lectures in large halls or test-centered education, but through hands-on learning. Discovering Eikei University of Hiroshima by chance felt like finding the ideal path, and I decided to enroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning, I never imagined I would start a project of my own. But through my studies and experiences at Eikei University of Hiroshima, that mindset changed dramatically. Learning about various social issues and the solutions being implemented around the world sparked a desire in me to take action. The influence of my peers was especially powerful\u2014they were launching their own projects, confronting social challenges, and actively engaging with the world. Being in that environment made me feel a growing urge to do something myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The classes that had the greatest impact on me were the\u00a0Project-Based Learning and the\u00a0Experiential \/ Practical programs. In the Project-Based Learning, I learned foundational approaches to tackling social issues and developed competencies like foresight and strategy. Passion alone isn\u2019t enough\u2014without the right methods, a project can\u2019t succeed. The internship I participated in through the Experiential \/ Practical program also had a major influence on my thinking and career direction. I had the opportunity to work with organizations in fields I was interested in, and the connections I made there led to future project collaborations. No matter the project, there\u2019s a limit to what one person can do alone. Through the internship, I built relationships with like-minded individuals and developed global collaboration\u3000\u2014one of the most valuable assets I gained during university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scenes from the public presentation of the Degree Project<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduation, I\u2019ll be working in a different industry from the projects I\u2019ve pursued so far. I hope to explore new ways of contributing to society through this new environment. I also want to continue being involved in the project I started during university\u2014not as a personal achievement, but as an ongoing commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people think about solving social issues, they may imagine dedicating themselves to a single project. But I believe it\u2019s possible to balance social contribution through work<\/em> and personal engagement with social issues<\/em>. I want to continue developing myself and taking action with both of these pillars in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To future students and juniors: even if people call you a \u201ctry-hard\u201d or say you\u2019re just following trends\u2014even if you think that about yourself\u2014please don\u2019t hesitate to pursue what interests you. No matter the outcome, starting something will always reveal something new. Even if you stumble along the way, it\u2019s never a waste. University is a rare time when you can challenge yourself freely. Don\u2019t worry about how others see you\u2014embrace your university life wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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