Jonathan is one of the four alumni who were interviewed for the 2018 TOMODACHI Initiative Annual Report. Check out her interview below!
Jonathan Canfield
From Virginia, studied abroad at Waseda University and currently interning at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. He attended a Japanese Immersion Program during elementary school and traveled to Japan for the first time through a homestay program with a family in Osaka.
Through the TOMODACHI program, he met many influential people who showed him what leadership is and helped him crystalize his goal to support US-Japan relations through the defense and policy.
"If I hadn't done the TOMODACHI program, my current path would be completely different."
Q: What impact did you receive from the TOMODACHI program?
“If I hadn’t done the TOMODACHI program, my career path would have been completely different. During the TOMODACHI Program and other alumni opportunities since, I met with U.S. and Japanese officials and was so impressed with their commitment and dedication to public service and knowledge of the bilateral relationship that it inspired me to want to work in the government and take the path to strengthen US-Japan relations.”
Q: What does Leadership mean to you?
“Something you can’t learn in the classroom. When I met other TOMODACHI participants in DC - they were nursing students from Tohoku - I could see they were very nervous and I had felt the same way before so I shared with them how I felt at the conference, and it made them feel better to know that they’re not the only ones to feel nervous in front of crowds. I thought their stories were really important and I’m glad I came out to hear them and was able to encourage them to have more confidence to share their stories.”
Q: What is the impact the TOMODACHI Generation can provide to communities and beyond?
“It’s hard to say just one thing but words that come to mind are: Appreciation, Gratitude, Inspiration, and just this desire to give gack. Its a two way investment; the people we meet at these conferences, they’re investing in us but its also a call to action. Now I want to give back and help mentor and support others who are trying to figure out where they fit and how they want to engage in the broader US-Japan relationship.”
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