Shoku Nomura

Student

“In Japan, I think we just push education onto children. In America, we let children be themselves; not just ‘little adults.’”

Midterms. The word—and the situation—that strikes fear into the heart of every person choosing to move forward in life through education. Shoku Nomura had just undergone this ‘ritual of fire’ in both her Psychology and Art History classes. At last she could breathe again, and even laugh. “I did my best, like I always do, and now I just hope I got a cool score,” said the young woman from Hokkaido, Japan. “But I never know—I’m never certain about how I do—because of the language. English and Japanese are so totally, totally different.”

But Shoku found—at SMC—that the barrier the English language presents to foreign students is not an impenetrable wall. “I took Child Development 8 last semester, and my teacher was so very nice. She was Sue Livingston, and she taught us how to teach music and art to kids. I got an A in that class, and I was so happy! I was afraid, because of my English skills,” Shoku adds, “but she always cheered me up and encouraged me. I feel strong because of her and the way she teaches. And if I work on my English skills and get my degree here, then I can have my own daycare center and teach children from all over the world. That would be my dream,” she adds. But before Shoku settles down with a pack of global ‘rugrats,’ she may very well be going out on a few side-trips to meet children on their own turf.

“My boyfriend is from Tanzania, and we plan to visit each others’ families,” she says. “We met each other at SMC, and now—maybe—he can show me the wild places in Africa, and I can show him the beautiful snow and mountains in Hokkaido.” Boundaries—at SMC—are without limits.

Back