Nana
Name
Nanako Ota
Home city and country
Fuji, Japan
Secondary School
St. Paul’s School (New Hampshire)
Major and minor(s) at Wheaton
Major: Anthropology, Minor: Education/Development Studies
Year of Wheaton graduation
2013
Activities at Wheaton
Asian American Coalition (AAC), Southeastern Massachusetts Wind Symphony (Clarinet), and Japanese Language Tutor
Why Wheaton
I wanted a small liberal arts colleges, so I applied to Wheaton due to its learning environment and close-knit community.
Adjusting to Wheaton
Thanks to the international student orientation, it was not difficult for me to adjust. Now I have close friends both from my home country, Japan, and from all over the world and am able to understand life in foreign countries such as Thailand, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Guatemala. Conversations at Wheaton about cultures and perspectives on the world have enriched me as a global citizen.
Sometimes living in a dorm is tough, but it is all about the learning experience. Having a difficult time is just as important as having a fun time, because eventually these experiences lead me to understand my friends and myself better.
In Japan, education is lecture-based, and my teachers never asked my opinion in class and I had never written a paper. When I came to the U.S., at first it was incredibly challenging for me to speak, but Wheaton professors respect students’ opinions and perspectives, and they never allow me to stop thinking and reflecting on my views, so eventually I became comfortable.
Favorite professor
My favorite professor is my dear advisor, Professor Kerner. Last summer, I participated in her three-week trip to Tanzania, which changed my life. After coming back, I took her Peoples and Cultures of Africa course. Now I have a deeper understanding of Africa, where my precious Tanzanian friends grew up.
Academics at Wheaton
Currently I am in Bhutan with ten Wheaton students for a semester study abroad program. What brought me to Bhutan was my Wheaton Bhutanese friends who were with me when I had both the toughest time and the happiest time. I was eager to see the place that shaped their lives. Now at Royal Thimphu College, every time I talk with a new person or laugh to tears with my Bhutanese friends, I thank Wheaton and my first Bhutanese friends there.
Final thoughts
The diversity of the Wheaton community is something I feel most proud of. I know how scary and intimidating it can be at first to study abroad, but now I am much more mature thanks to the education in the U.S. and the people I’ve met. Wheaton offers a door to discover your new-self, or true-self, so ask yourself if you are ready and willling to change. If you are, you should consider Wheaton!
