Courses That Shaped Me

Assorted Dreams and Unlimited Outlooks

Since childhood, I’ve known about my curiosity across different disciplines, with my dreams and goals changing from time to time. This made choosing a university major particularly challenging. The opportunity to explore multiple fields was a key reason I chose GLA. 

However, what is more important is how GLA encourages students to find connections between different disciplines, fostering a comprehensive point of view that serves as a strong foundation for our future careers no matter which path we decide to take. 

My time at university has led me to develop an interest in academia, and I aspire to become a researcher while advocating for the interdisciplinary approach I gained at GLA. By promoting this method, I hope to help educational institutions around the world, especially those unfamiliar with it, to better prepare future generations for an ever-complex world.

Building an Inter-civilizational View of How the World Works

As this was my second semester (in the first year, September enrollment), I opted for a course overload to allow myself more room to pursue courses that piqued my interests. Besides the compulsory and Japanese language courses, I took introduction courses in Market Economy and International Relations, as I believed these subjects are interlinked in understanding the global order. 

These courses taught me the mainstream view of the global order through a Western lens. So, to gain a more holistic outlook, I took a Special Lecture on Postcolonialism to learn how this Western lens came to be the mainstream. This course helped me critically assess the mainstream theories I had learned in the former two courses. Additionally, an introductory course in philosophy I took in the previous semester sparked my curiosity about the subject, leading me to continue my studies in philosophy this semester. 

Taking eight courses was overwhelming at first, but once I grasped the types of assignments and coursework for each course, I managed my workload effectively. For example, many courses required weekly assignments, so I allocated specific times to work on them while organizing the rest of my work accordingly.

Taking ANU BAPA Courses 

This was my lightest semester (in the second year) as I took only five courses, two of which were BAPA courses from our Dual Degree Program with ANU. These courses were very exciting as they delved into topics that I have long been interested in: “The Origins of Political Order in Asia” explored the history of political order in Asia, while “Understanding Peace and Conflict” examined different aspects of war and peace. 

As I entered my 2nd year, I became eligible for Intermediate Courses, and took Issues in Ethics, which explored various ethical theories from Western to African perspectives and their real-world applications. I also pursued the Special Lecture on Government and Economic Policy to further my interest in economics and its role in policymaking. Additionally, I enrolled in an Introductory Course on Historical Sociology since I was intrigued by the idea of combining two disciplines by viewing sociology from a historical lens. 

Even with just five courses, time management remained a challenge. Keeping track of deadlines and breaking down large tasks like research papers into smaller manageable steps helped ease my academic workload.

Learning Whenever Wherever

Being in a university means being part of an academic environment. Occasionally, I attend academic seminars and conferences, both in-person and online, where I get a chance to hear from experts in various disciplines. Even if I do not fully understand everything at the time, immersing myself in knowledge-rich settings is always worthwhile.

Outside of campus, I travel often. I see it as another form of learning. Journeying through Japan using its renowned public transportation system has given me firsthand insights into its history, culture, and society. I also use my time here to appreciate Japan’s natural wonders through outdoor activities such as hiking, occasionally joining open trips, where we meet people from and out of Japan.