My name is Sherise. I was born in New York City, but I grew up in Hong Kong. When I was 14 years old, I moved back to New York and studied high school in Albany. I am living in New York City and go to college here.
Since I was little, I have loved Japanese culture. I grew up in a Chinese family. I think it is really fun to see how Chinese and Japanese cultures are different but also alike. I think Japanese food is so yummy, especially udon and sushi. I also really like Japanese stationery. They make the coolest pens, notebooks, and stickers. I used to spend hours in the store just looking at all the fun designs.
When I started college, I had to pick a new language to learn. I chose Japanese right away because I wanted to understand more about the country I love. My teacher saw how much I love Japan and said, “You should go to Japan and see it for yourself!”
In college, I study something called actuarial science. That means I learn about math for insurance. Japan has some big challenges like an aging population and natural disasters, so it’s a great place for me to learn more and work toward my dream of becoming an actuary!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
