About Me: The Shift from Convention to Conviction
1. The Conventional Path and the Quiet Discontent
Like most students in Taiwan’s public high school system, my initial trajectory was straightforward: follow the traditional domestic examination track and advance along the conventional academic ladder. Outside the classroom, I threw myself into various social projects and fieldwork, but as university entrance exams loomed closer, a deep sense of disorientation surfaced.
I found myself questioning the person I truly wanted to become. Looking at the standardized tests ahead, I realized a conventional path could not fulfill my curiosity. Reflecting on my real-world inquiries—from demographic research to rural fieldwork—I recognized that the issues I wanted to explore were deeply anchored in East Asian societal dynamics, particularly in Japan’s intersection of demographic decline, regional strategy, and public policy.
2. Breaking the Mold: Forging My Own Path
Deciding to step outside the standard Taiwanese examination framework from a local public high school was an uphill battle. With limited institutional roadmaps for international admissions, I had to build my own pathway from scratch:
- Academic & Linguistic Independence: Rigorously self-studying Japanese, preparing for and mastering the IELTS, and building an empirical research portfolio while managing my high school curriculum.
- Information Architecture: Navigating complex overseas application systems, evaluating policy curricula across borders, and synthesizing my field inquiries into verifiable academic narratives.
The uncertainty was daunting, but every obstacle gave me absolute clarity about my direction. I was no longer running on a pre-set track; I was actively designing my own future.
3. The Destination: Keio SFC Faculty of Policy Management
Through this deliberate journey of self-determination, my aspiration crystallized: the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University SFC.
SFC’s core philosophy—refusing disciplinary silos, viewing policy as the practical choices people make to drive social action, and fostering leaders who solve real-world crises—mirrors the exact researcher I strive to become. I am not seeking an ivory-tower education; I am coming to SFC to combine data, policy, and grassroots fieldwork to build resilient communities for our shared future.
