School: Benjamin Banneker Academic High School

Grade: Rising sophomore

Fun Fact/Interest: My zodiac sign is Virgo (born in August) and my Chinese animal is a rabbit, known as Usagi in Japan. During my free-time, I like taking mental health time for myself, spending time with my friends and family, and finding new hobbies.

Personal Statement: My first interaction with Asian culture began in elementary school. At school, we learned Chinese rather than Japanese. I did not understand the language most of the time, but I loved singing songs in Chinese, celebrating New Year’s with my class, and eating Tang Yuan. My first interaction with Japanese culture was through anime during the beginning of my middle school year. I consumed a lot of their media when I was younger and although my love for anime has died down, my interest in Japan has not. I was fascinated with the food, the beautiful geography and architecture, the fashions, and many more. Japanese culture was my first time truly immersing myself in different cultures around the world, and it continues to power my desire to explore the world.

Why I enrolled in Japan and DC: Japan in DC allows me to learn more about Japan and its history as well as its culture while being in my birth city. Japanese culture is rarely taught in schools, which is why I consider this program unique; It allows participants not only to learn but interact as well. The program not only talks about the beauty of Japanese culture but also the history it has, especially with the United States. By joining this program, I’ll be able to learn about Japanese cultures, traditions, and media to fuel my interests for Japan and its diversity from different cultures.

My favorite thing about Japanese culture: My favorite thing about Japanese culture is hanakotaba: the language of flowers. Their form of floriography allows people to communicate through color, arrangements, and specific flowers. I enjoy how hanakotaba makes meaning out of the beauty of flowers.