Class: 2027
Concentration: Biomedical Engineering
House: Cabot
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Favorite Japanese food: Cold udon and fried momiji manju
Japan-related experiences: 2025 Japan Summer Science Undergraduate Research Program (JSSURP)
What connections to Japan, if any, did you have before coming to Harvard?
My high school hosted a foreign exchange student from Okinawa, Japan and I became good friends with him and learned a lot about Japanese culture.
What drew you to Japan, and how did you decide on participating in JSSURP?
My friends Aryenne, Alin, and Amav had the opportunity to spend a summer in Japan through the RIJS. I heard about their experiences and was really intrigued. I wanted to travel abroad somewhere in Asia, get a unique research experience, and challenge myself to live in a new country, so JSSURP seemed like the perfect opportunity.
What was daily life like in Hiroshima?
Life was immersive and adventurous. I went to lab each day, and shared lunch with other lab members in the school cafeteria. I befriended many students at Hiroshima University who were still in their semester, so I followed their lifestyle and studied with them at various libraries and cafes. In the evenings, I enjoyed trying out restaurants nearby and hanging out with friends. I also enjoyed running and biking along the rivers in Hiroshima. Over several weekends, I travelled to Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Miyajima Island, and Onomichi!
What was it like being part of a lab abroad, and how did it differ from your lab experiences thus far?
I joined the Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery at Hiroshima University School of Medicine, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Hideki Ohdan. I learned many wet lab techniques and had the chance to observe multiple surgeries. Many researchers in the lab also work as surgeons, and I was really inspired by how hard they work. This was a unique experience because I got to see how research and surgical practice can be integrated to overcome clinical challenges.
Dinner with some lab members!
Was there something new you learned or an interest you were able to explore by being abroad?
A friend of a friend brought me to the university's Aikido club! I do taekwondo at Harvard, so I was especially excited to learn a Japanese martial art.
Picture of me with aikido club members.
What are some highlights from your summer?
I visited Miyajima Island twice, a beautiful island in Hiroshima known for their deer and "floating" torii. In Miyajima, I got to try anago eel, see some deer, and admire the sunset over the torii gate during high tide.
Was there something that surprised you about living in Japan?
I was surprised by how kind people are towards foreigners. I wanted to get a haircut and was scared to because of the language barrier, but my hairdresser was so kind and even self-studied some English phrases before my appointment. I was surprised and grateful for all the hospitality shown to me.
What advice do you have for others considering going abroad?
Be spontaneous and soak in all the experiences.
Do you plan on continuing to stay involved with Japan while at Harvard? If so, how?
I want to take a Japanese language course next year to improve my Japanese and go back to Japan someday!