Since graduation from Meiji University, I have been working as a flight attendant at a Japanese airline. One aspect of a flight attendant’s job is providing hospitality through careful attention to service so as to provide a comfortable environment during the flight. Another aspect is to be able to quickly guide passengers to safety in an emergency. I am involved in those in daily basis on both domestic and international flights.

I am glad that I chose this line of work when people I meet on flights tell me, “Thank you. It was a pleasant flight today.” Moreover, flight attendants work in a team, so I get a great sense of accomplishment when we have successfully completed a flight by all of the members putting their efforts together.

I think it is important to try to “maintain a sense of responsibility” when doing my job. Anyone can make mistakes and run into obstacles, but giving up or working with a half-hearted attitude is inexcusable. And without maintaining a sense of responsibility, you will gain nothing from your job and won’t last long at it.

Particularly with international flights connecting different countries, I can constantly gain fresh experiences thanks to the opportunity of meeting passengers of various nationalities. I would like to make use of those experiences in the future by being involved in proposing and planning to make cabin service on individual routes even better than now.

Finding a job took longer than I expected due to the effects of the economic downturn precipitated by the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008. I started my job search in October of my third year of university, thinking that a needed to start as early as possible, but it was a year before I received my first offer.

I have come to realize the importance of thinking from the other person’s perspective and acting based on that. Being raised as an only child, I tended to be self-centered, putting myself before others. But my way of thinking changed greatly due to the various experiences I gained while studying abroad.

I don't think I would have achieved what I am today if I did not have my parents and the people I have met up to now. I have come to realize the importance of encountering new people and showing gratitude towards one’s parents. So, I would like to take the opportunity provided by that realization to keep a feeling of gratitude in mind when living my daily life.

I was shy and not a very active student, so it was difficult for me to make friends. Other aspects the university supported me with, so I didn’t feel student life to be particularly difficult.

As part of the activities of a seminar I took at Meiji University, I was in charge of a presentation at an exchange event with other universities. It was a challenge for me, with my shy personality, to make a presentation in front of an audience of 200 people, and I was really nervous.
I have opportunities to make presentations in my current job, so I am able to make use of that experience and present without being too nervous.

That would be my English classes.
When I think back on it, Meiji University’s learning environment with a range of English language classes taught by native speakers was extravagant—a truly wonderful environment.

I think the university’s support from day-to-day life, through learning on- and off-campus, to career guidance was truly great. There is a full range of information and facilities, and I think it would be hard not to make use of that support.