student

Ken Kayama '13

Summer 2011 Plans:

I am doing a summer program directed by The Fund for American Studies at Georgetown this summer. My specific program's title is called Government Business Affairs. I'm taking two courses related to that topic and interning for the National Association of Railroad Passengers, a non-profit organization that helps gather funds for Amtrak.

Although my hometown is Tokyo, I attended Solebury School, a boarding school in New Hope, Pa., so I could broaden my horizon through learning English and living in the United States. I also wanted to play baseball in America.

I made my decision to attend SU after coming here for the Accepted Students Day. I really liked the campus and was impressed with SU’s business program and the close student-teacher relationships. I wanted to be in a small class environment where I could ask questions and talk to the professors freely, both inside and outside of class.

Susan Rambo was my Writing and Thinking teacher in the first semester. When I went to her office for extra help, she always asked me how I was doing with other classes, and if I had problems with anything outside of the class. Her presence and kindness meant a lot to me because I am here on my own and so far away from my family in Japan.

My Global Business Perspectives class and macro and microeconomics class have influenced me to think about things going on in the economy and how firms make profits. I hope to gain more knowledge about different types of business and find out what I really want to pursue in the business world. I would like a career related to baseball.

I played baseball in high school and now at SU. It is like a gateway from schoolwork and all the stressful stuff I have to deal with. I enjoy playing the sport I love. I also like the fact that I can build strong bonds and friendships with my teammates because we work hard together in practice and play hard in the games.

I’ve been to many parts of the United States, and my favorite places are Pennsylvania and California—they both offer great opportunities to experience nature. That’s something I don’t get much in Tokyo.