Hello everyone!! I am Shrestha Smarika, a second-year master’s student in public health in our Empowerment Science lab. The rising temperatures this summer have been relentless, and I hope everyone stays hydrated and embrace the joy of summer.
Amidst the scorching heat of summer, this month few of our lab members together with Anme Sensei visited Tobishima village from 13th July to 20th July. First of all, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the staffs of Tobishima village for their unwavering support, kindness, and generosity. We are also thankful towards Anme Sensei for providing us with this valuable opportunity and let us explore the world of possibilities.
The main task during this visit was to conduct Focus Group Interviews and personal interviews with different groups of people during their home visits. In addition to the interviews, we also visited facilities such as community centers, Tobishima school, child health center, and nonprofit organizations. This visit allowed our team to gain a deeper understanding of the daily life in Tobishima.
The participants in the survey were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the entire process. Their active engagement and willingness to share their insights and offer valuable feedback is something I appreciate a lot. By working hand in hand with the participants, the survey was infact a collaborative effort, and it is evident that their dedication and cooperation were instrumental making this visit a transformative and empowering experience for all involved.
From laboratory protocols to communication channels, we explored various aspects during this visit that directly taught us the professional way of conducting research and building a strong team dynamics. It was an immensely rewarding experience which allowed us to gather valuable data, build stronger connections among lab members, and empower ourselves in the journey towards scientific excellence. As we concluded the survey, I believe that the excitement for future improvements and growth among our team members will be even more escalated.
I am Otik Widyastutik, a first year doctoral student at the empowerment lab. On July 5th, 2023 we had our senior Yantong Zhu-San's graduation party. Please allow me to record the excitement of the party we had with Senpai Yan-San.
On that happy day, after the Focus Group Interview training activity, we gathered with all the lab members including Anme Sensei and Yan-San to celebrate the graduation party for Yan-San. At the party, the lab members gave Yan-San a special teapot as a gift, so that when Yan-San is in his country, he could drink tea with the teapot and remember the good memories with all the Empowerment Lab members. Anme Sensei also exchanged gifts with Yan-San as a form of gratitude and thanks for all the hard work that has been done by both of them.
Anme Sensei said that Yan-San was a person who was very diligent and had a strong passion while he was a student, and that was the key to the success he is now achieving. Likewise with Yan-San who expressed his gratitude to Anme Sensei for the guidance given while being a member of the Empowerment lab until he achieved graduation and success in publishing the results of the research that had been carried out. Yan-San managed to publish 6 papers under the guidance of Anme Sensei. That is a very extraordinary achievement. Yan-San also conveyed valuable tips for all lab members to always be diligent in consulting with Anme Sensei in the process of being a student, in all matters relating to obligations as a student, especially during the process of research and publication. Yan-San learned a lot about cohort research from Anme Sensei, and managed to publish a paper every semester while he was a student under Anme Sensei's guidance. No less important, according to Yan-San, is always active in receiving input from seniors in perfecting the papers that will be published.
It was a party that was quite inspiring and motivating all members of the lab to always be passionate about achieving success while being students at the University of Tsukuba. Congratulation again to Yan-San on graduating and always success in the future. Cheers and good luck to all lab members, I hope we can achieve success like Yan-San.
