GCP First Generation My Self Growth
Global Challenge Program (GCP) First Generation
Hikari Oi
（Social and Environmental Studies/Graduated in March 2026）
My four years participating with GCP was a constant period of learning and self-growth. Initially, I was unsure of my future and lacked confidence, which made self-improvement difficult. However, when I learned about GCP, I thought that if I took on that challenge, I might be able to make improvements to myself. This marked a major turning point in my life. Through GCP activities, I learned the basic etiquette and responsibility necessary to become a productive member of society, as well as a sincere attitude of respecting and interacting with others. This allowed me to grow as a person.
One of my most memorable experiences from GCP was the collaborative program with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While working on a project with students from different fields, I took on topics outside my own field and realized the importance of interdisciplinary learning. Exposure to diverse values and discussions dramatically broadened my perspective, and cultivated the flexible critical thinking skills needed to assess things from multiple angles.This experience dramatically changed my attitude toward the IT field, which I had always been interested in, but had been hesitant to take the first step towards learning. Being in an environment where challenges outside my field of knowledge were welcomed positively, has removed the mental barriers that limited my potential. I made the decision to take the initiative and venture into unknown territory and as a result, I was able to find a career for myself at my first choice, a global IT company.
Going forward, I will use the "spirit of inquiry that pushes beyond boundaries" and the "respect for diverse values" I developed through GCP, to become a member of society who can bridge people with different specialties within the rapidly changing IT industry. I hope to contribute to global society by connecting technology and people, and continuing to create with a broad perspective.
