I recalled a certain event—
In August 2016, I was in the United States for a short-term study to learn English. It was my first time alone overseas, staying with a host mother who barely spoke English, without wifi, I struggled to communicate and attended school desperately. Everything was stimulating.
One day after school, I entered a chicken shop for English conversation practice. When I left, the 25-cent coin in my left hand was covered by the hands of an unknown man. At that time, unable to speak much English, I couldn’t understand what he was saying. But his dirty, torn clothes, freely grown beard, and bloodshot eyes were more than enough to convey that he was struggling in life and desired the 25-cent coin I was holding. Since it was the first time for me to experience something like this, I was surprised and frozen with tension. Then a big, strong father with his family came, took our hands, and let go. I said, “Thank you,” to that father, felt a sigh of relief, and made my way home as if to run away.
What would have happened if I had asked that man, “Can you be my conversation partner for $1 per minute?” instead of buying chicken for English practice? I could have practiced English, and the man might have alleviated hunger…
—Afterward, I started thinking about how I would spend money and whether I would regret it after ten years. Being conscious of this, various things came into my view.
I realized there are homeless people in the city I live in as well, friends unable to afford education due to financial reasons, and things happening nearby that I hadn’t been aware of. Conversely, I noticed things like brightly lit billboards at night with no one looking, people spending time and money without much thought, and questioned if it was truly okay.
The dream world I envision is where everyone can access essential items and pursue their dreams naturally, leading a happy life with dignity. To achieve this, I believe balancing the world’s finances is necessary.
I have been profoundly influenced by photographs and videos. Experiencing things that I only knew just as information through these mediums can feel like personal experiences. Viewing Intense heavy works has caused me heartache, and witnessing wonderful ones has moved me to tears, inspiring me to visit those places and see the same scenes for myself. I’ve felt daily how powerfully these mediums can move people’s hearts.
I aspire to be someone who connects those who can support but don’t know how with individuals in need and organizations directly providing support. Belonging to NPOs or NGOs and working to address issues is truly admirable and noble. However, I believe that by promoting and garnering support and empathy for these activities, we can not only sustain the initiatives themselves but also contribute to creating a wonderful world. Above all, support needs to be continuous to make a lasting impact.
To achieve this, I am currently engaged in a student exchange program in France, where I am studying communication design and media design. I chose France not only for the academic opportunities it offers but also because learning the widely spoken French language is essential for understanding people and issues on a global scale. I also work as a photographer, videographer, and social media consultant. In these roles, I provide guidance on creating photos and videos that evoke empathy for humanitarian organizations, and I instruct on effective methods for sharing information on social media.
I want to contribute to the creation of a world where everyone naturally has access to the necessities of life and the opportunity to pursue their dreams, living happily with dignity. I’ll never die before witnessing such a world come into existence.