Episode
The eight competencies developed at Ritsumeikan Academy.
We introduce how they are developed through daily experiences, along with diverse episodes.
*These episodes are based on responses actually submitted by students at every level of education—including elementary, junior high, and high school students, as well as university and graduate students—in the Quantitative Survey for Ritsumeikan Academy Competency Framework conducted in the 2024 academic year. Information that could identify individuals has been removed or modified before publication.
Competency
Episode
- Classes
- StudyAbroad
- ExtracurricularActivities
- ClubsAndSocieties
- StudyingOutsideOfClass
- Research
- SchoolEvents
- ExtracurricularLessons
- Community
- Family
- FriendsAndPeers
- TeachersAndMentors
- Goals
- Effort
- Achievement
- Growth
- Collaboration
- SeekingAdvice
- GivingUp
- Worries
- Happiness
- Anxiety
- Confidence
- Change
- EntranceExamsAndQualifications
- JobHuntingAndInternships
- PartTimeJobs
Same as answer one. I have been more critical of myself and started taking notes and doing journals to keep track of what I have been doing the past few months, and have been trying to change my approaches.
Initiative
After the military if I hadn't engaged in self reflection, I would not have learned at all. Granted, I would have left with good memories and a tick on my checklist of milestones, but the overall point of enlisting was not just to overcome my limitations, but to understand and learn the method of doing so. I would have never been able to utilize my newly obtained skills if not for the self reflection I've done right after discharge.
Self-efficacy
During my graduation research class in my University, I had to choose the problem I want to solve. In my case, I chose the problem in object detection, which belongs to the computer vision field. The problem I decided to tackle was extremely difficult, and required a lot of understanding in many concepts that I haven't had the opportunity to learn before. Due to the occasion, I've spent a lot of time in diving deep into the literature, and was able to develop the skill to understand thinks from scientific point of view.
Understanding
I believed my teamwork grew a lot because I did a lot of extracurricular events that made me focus on teamwork, such as when I helped BBP carry out the stall on school festival day.
Teamwork
I was conscripted into the Korean military for 18 months. I am Korean American and an American citizen therefor I am not necessarily obligated to enlist. However, I chose to do so to overcome my personal limitations regarding adaptation and better myself as an overall individual. It was during service where I truly learned the rewards of trying your best. I was able to overcome my personal limitations and after discharge (with flying colors) I had some time to self reflect and figure out the base of my issues in life. With the skill sets and mentality I had obtained from the military, I am now doing much better in my academia and everyday life.
Resilience
I am currently in my final year of studies at Ritsumeikan, and I am doing job-hunting at the moment. I have applied to many companies, have not heard back from majority of them, and gotten rejected by those that I went for an interview with. Despite that, I never gave up and I am still continuing my job hunt as I am determined to stay in Japan. After each unsuccessful attempt in finding a job, I would always reflect on what I did, and how I can improve myself in my next interview opportunity. I am also working harder than ever, finding jobs on all platforms possible, and trying to network with new people, which is something that I have never done before in the past. Albeit still not having land a job yet, I can see that there is a gradual improvement in myself throughout these few months as I am becoming a stronger person while learning new things about myself and the world.
Resilience
Resilience is a critical competency that I have recognized as essential to develop during my studies. In the past, I would often feel overwhelmed when things didn’t go perfectly or when I faced setbacks in achieving my goals quickly. I tended to give up easily, feeling defeated by my imperfections. However, through reflection and experience, I have started to understand the importance of persistence and patience. I’ve learned that great things take time and effort, and it’s okay to make mistakes as part of the learning process. This realization has helped me bounce back from challenges, stay motivated, and continue working toward my goals despite obstacles.
Resilience
There were many times when I felt that I could have scored better in the test during my first two years in the university. However, after some time I realized that simply giving up will not solve anything, thus I decided to accept my past failures, and concentrate more on my future goals and achievements. This experience helped me to develop the resilience, and ability to look forward.
Resilience
I’ve realized that everyone is dealing with their own struggles, even if we can’t see what’s going on in their lives. That understanding has taught me how important it is to be empathetic. When you take the time to be there for someone and show them support, it can make such a difference. Being empathetic means helping people feel seen, loved, and understood, even in their toughest moments. It’s about creating a positive space where they know they’re not alone. I’ve found that showing a little kindness and understanding goes a long way—not just in making others feel better but also in making the world a brighter, more positive place for everyone.
Empathy