TOMODACHI Generation: Shota Sakurai
School: Reitaku University, sophomore
Major/Area of study: International language and exchange
Birthplace: Iwaki-shi, Fukushima Prefecture
In the summer of 2014, Shota Sakurai, a high school junior, participated in the TOMODACHI Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program. He started CONNECT SENT, a student-led organization focused on relief efforts. He was one of the volunteers from the TOMODACHI alumni, who went to Kumamoto, to participate in the relief efforts. He gave collected donation from Reitaku University, a total of 68,110 yen, to Kumamoto where the disaster was stricken on April 2016.
What has changed after you participated in the TOMODACHI program?
Before I joined the TOMODACHI program, I did not like presenting in front of people and taking leadership roles. On the day when the disaster occurred, I did not discuss with people and think of volunteering opportunities, instead, I was only handing out water and blankets at the evacuation center. However, after the TOMODACHI Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program, I gave myself a try being more proactive— joining student-led organization focused on relief efforts and participating in the TOMODACHI events. Gradually, I became a risk-taker and became more proactive—the attributes that I have never had before. With more involvement, I learned to voice my own opinions and to share my ideas. My friends and family, even I, are surprised that I made a large progress that I am making. After realizing this change, I am wondering to myself why I did not acquire these essential communication and life skills before. However, I am glad that I was able to notice it in my final year of high school.
What does TOMODACHI mean to you?
Many graduates from my technical high school find jobs, and I was one of them. But, thanks to the TOMODACHI Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program, it inspired me to make my own future dream goals and to figure out what I want to do. Most importantly, I made friends that will last a lifetime. TOMODACHI has a wide-open community. Once you are a TOMODACHI, you will meet many alumni from different fields that you would never expect to meet. Moreover, TOMODACHI is where you can learn and grow to become the person that you want to be. If you are seeking advice for a serious issue, you can turn to TOMODACHI upperclassmen who will be happy to provide you with feedback and suggestions. TOMODACHI provides a place where you can make friends that would worry with you, cry with you, and laugh with you. Every day, I receive many ideas and inspiration from friends. Regardless of how I constantly look back to my worries and challenges when I entered college, I know that the student-led relief effort organizations is something that will keep me moving forward. When a disaster occurs, we immediately ask for donations and volunteer at disaster-stricken areas. Recently, I volunteered with the TOMODACHI alumni in Kumamoto and gave our donation collection.
What inspired you to start a student-led volunteering organization?
I do not volunteer for my own benefit but volunteer essentially because of the following key words: “for someone in need” and “disaster.” Helping out someone in need is primarily what motivates me to volunteer, but then “disaster,” which for me affects positively and negatively, allows me work towards the best of my abilities.
How we define “to try our very best” depends on the individual. In my opinion, “trying our very best” happens when we have something to look forward or when we unconsciously do a project. I would like to say a large thank you to TOMODACHI for making me realize this and for changing my life, or else I would not have had noticed it. From now on, instead of becoming someone who receives, I will be someone who gives to the society.
