Ashley Wilson: Living and learning in Japan thanks to national scholarship
Ashley Wilson, a rising senior double majoring in economics and international affairs with a concentration in comparative politics at the University of Maine, spent the summer living and learning in Japan as a participant in the competitive Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program.
As a part of CLS, Wilson attended an intensive language program at Okayama University, where she improved her Japanese speaking skills, met new friends and enjoyed the country in her spare time. A highlight of her adventure was the nights spent playing games with fellow students.
“It is a fun way to improve my Japanese skills while also getting the chance to relax from classes and school work,” Wilson said.
On her free weekends, Wilson explored Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, and participated in day trips as a part of a sustainability course at the university.
One of Wilson’s favorite Japanese phrases is「落ち着け」(o-chi-tsu-ke), which means “calm down.” As she navigates the challenges of learning a new language, Wilson occasionally finds herself overwhelmed. When her friends and teachers remind her to “落ち着け,” she’s able to refocus.
“Hearing that is a nice way to understand that it isn’t the end of the world when you don’t know something yet.” Wilson said. “That’s why I’m in Japan, so I can learn something new.”
Wilson found the CLS program online while searching for a budget-friendly option to study abroad. She navigated the application process, which included writing three short essays showcasing her language-learning journey, her motivation to learn Japanese and her future academic and professional goals, with help from family and friends and guidance from UMaine’s Office of Major Scholarships.
“I would highly encourage seeking out help from the Office of Major Scholarships,” Wilson said. “They truly made my application much better than I could have achieved on my own.”
Wilson said she believes her experience in Japan will have a lasting impact on her academics and her future. She plans to continue her language studies, return to Japan and pursue a career within the realm of world politics, global policy or country relations.
The application cycle for the CLS program opens in early fall and has a November deadline. UMaine’s Office of Major Scholarships organizes info sessions in September and is available to support students as they prepare all materials. The first step for interested students is to explore clscholarship.org and meet with Nives Dal Bo-Wheeler, Director of UMaine’s Office of Major Scholarships, nives.dalbowheeler@maine.edu.
Learn more about UMaine’s Office of Major Scholarships at umaine.edu/majorscholarships.
Contact: Samantha Perry, samantha.perry@maine.edu