Greetings from Staff
Students are invited to feel free to drop by the Student Support Station for any reason at all, from curiosity to something that's got you worried. Perhaps these greetings from our different staff members may help you decide who you'd ideally like to talk with.
Student Consulting Services
HAYAMI Yoshiko -- Counselor, Suita campus
ADACHI Tomonori -- Counselor, Toyonaka campus
SAKAMI Atsuko -- Counselor, Toyonaka campus
TSUTSUI Yusuke -- Counselor, Minoh campus
WADA Naoko -- Counselor, Toyonaka campus
Career Counseling
KAWAMURA Yoshihide -- Counselor
Support for Students with Disabilities
MIZOBUCHI Mieko -- Coordinator
Student Support Community Space
CHINEN Yasuyo -- Receptionist
TACHIKAKE Toshiyuki, Associate Professor -- Sub-Leader, Consultation Services
In Consultation Services, we are ready to assist with advice on a variety of challenges in students' lives -- from consumer troubles, solicitations from cults, through to interpersonal relationships and learning problems. Additionally, queries from new students seeking assistance in pursuing a dream are welcome. Please feel free to make use of the Student Support Station.
KONDO Kumiko, Associate Professor -- Career Counseling
I was assigned in the Student Support Station in May 2011, but for the last 5 years, as a faculty member, I have had opportunities to talk with international students, undergraduates, and graduate students with a variety of backgrounds. They've spoken of their honest feelings that they wanted to land a job in which they could make use of what they learned, but, actually, they submitted applications in haste, thinking of the gloomy employment situation and comparing themselves to other students. I've also come to realize that there is a huge perception gap between companies and students. I will strive to expand students' viewpoints regarding job and help smooth communication between students and companies. So far, my research has focused on positive analysis of natural resources and environmental economics, but now I also would like to research corporate social responsibility.
MATSUBARA Takashi, Associate Professor -- Support for Students with Disabilities
Since the foundation of the Support Office for Students with Disabilities in 2002, I've been involved in support for Osaka University students with special challenges. Don't hesitate to visit us.
Greetings from 3 of the COUNSELORS
Hi! I'm SAKAMI, and I provide counseling services on the Toyonka Campus. I have been providing counseling services since April 2011. At the end of this academic year, I finally felt as if I was getting used to my job.
The "station" here is comfortably warm because of light coming from windows and occasional students' singing voices. I enjoy such a calm atmosphere. I hope students feel free to visit us.
I think I play the role of providing a bridge between students who have hopes and dreams to be fulfilled and persons providing services. I act as an intermediary between students seeking help and service providers such as career development advisers, Health Care Center staff, and other specialists.
However, human problems cannot be solved just by providing problem-solving resources. Each student has strong feelings. That's why a person who listens to their feelings in the role of an intermediary between who they are now and who they hope to be is needed. I think it's my most important role as an intermediary to think together with students before they make decisions and take initial steps toward making their dreams reality.
Coming face-to-face with our own naked self requires a lot of energy and strength.
There are many things that we don't want to face up to. However, one can't walk away from one's troubles. There are things that must be addressed now. I hope to sincerely help students who take the time and courage to visit us for advice and someone to listen to.
The Student Support Station also provides opportunities for students to get together socially by holding informal "cafés" every month or two.
Questionnaires distributed at these cafés have shown that these cafes were good opportunities for students to get together in a relaxed atmosphere.
While personal contacts with strangers via the Internet is growing these days, face-to-face exchanges are decreasing. That's why I hope to provide a place that we can share experiences.
Activities that have been held at the Student Support Station are displayed on a bulletin board at our office. They are filled with memories of students who participated in our activities. Let's include your memories in the next one!
SAKAMI Atsuko
Hi! I'm ADACHI Tomonori, and I provide counseling services on the Toyonka Campus. Let me note what we counselors do at the Student Support Center and what I think as a counselor.
We have four counselors and three of them, including me, work in the afternoon on Toyonaka campus. All of them majored in clinical psychology at graduate school and have been involved in counseling and psychological treatment on a daily basis. Some of them are licensed as clinical psychotherapists and I'm one of those.
Our two major activities are planning and implementing events for students (such as gardening and finger-painting) and providing counseling services to students.
Counseling students who need help is important, but giving students opportunities to socialize with other one another is also an important role for the station. I'm in charge of gardening projects. The number of participants is increasing step by step. I feel these gardening projects have become standard events at the station. Looking at the mint growing in the roof garden in summer, I felt refreshed.
My goal is to get more people aware of the station through such events. I feel that our plans are improving year by year. Working as a counselor at the station, I understand that every person has their own situation and they cope with it in their own way in coping with their troubles. Obviously some are more successful than others.
When I talk with students coming to the station for advice I think of the importance of helping them do something different from what they were. Everyone is afraid of making a change. When I have to cope with something new or different from the usual, I cautiously do it. That's why I take my hat off to the students who visit us to get advice in challenging a new or difficult thing. Counselors contribute to improving students' university lives by working on these two major duties.
If you'd like to participate in an event or or visit the station, or feel like doing something different, this is all the reward I need.
ADACHI Tomonori
Hi! I'm TSUTSUI, and I provide counseling services. It seems like only yesterday that 2012 began! I am overwhelmed by the fast passage of time.
Now, looking back on 2011 activities of the Student Support Station, I feel dizzy with such a quick passage of time. I cannot keep up with the high speed of time. I feel left alone and get frustrated and questions rise one after another: "Must I do something." "Am I satisfied with this?" "I wonder if it's good to keep on doing this?" "Who am I?"
While I am thinking of the fast passage of time, I remember what I don't want to think of or something that I want to keep hidden. Am I the only person who thinks that way? At the end of the academic yea or turn of the season, it may be natural that we think about something we usually don't think about. Actually, some students visit us at this time of year for the same reasons.
Regardless of whether they intend to look for employment or continue their education from April, students are worried about leaving things as they are. Many say, "Are we doing this right?" But I think such a person is looking back on his/her life and reconsidering his/her life. Whether they go ahead or stay where they are, it may be important to look back on their past. They make their own decision to go forward or to stay. Is this really what life is about?
In a drama, a leading character said, "The journey of life is in your hands." This phrase is pregnant with implications, the essence of living a life. It may take some time for us to understand this and infect to our heart. We look back on our life and get it all sorted out inside our head in order to be prepare for the rest of our life. I thought it would be good for me to be a counselor and help students to decide on their journeys.
TSUTSUI Yusuke
Career counselor
KAWAMURA Yoshihide
You may face multiple barriers in your job hunting -- difficulty in writing an attractive resumé or performing well in your job interviews. However, as you know, it's important to overcome such barriers one by one in order to land a job. There is no need to worry about such things alone. Please make a good use of our counseling office. We are here to assist you in landing a good job.
Career development advisers
SASAKI Yukiko, Career development adviser, Suita & Minoh campuses
Hi! I'm Yukiko Sasaki. When thinking of your career, think of your whole life, not just what job you want. Consider what you want to do in society, how you want to connect with society, how you want to work, and how you hope to live your life. You have the answers. I'm here to assist you in finding them.
NISHIBAYASHI Naomi, Career development adviser, Suita campus
Hi! I'm Naomi Nishibayashi, and I provide counseling services on Monday afternoons. Whether it's not knowing how to conduct a job search suited to yourself, not being sure about how to promote yourself and your potential on the job market, or being unsure about how to skillfully handle yourself in an interview, or concern about balancing studies and job search, I'm here to help you. Please don't worry alone! Feel free to come and talk with me about anything.
NOMURA Fumiko, Career development adviser, Toyonaka campus
I provide counseling services on Wednesday afternoons. Job hunting is the first step in finding a job that suits you. The first job after university is especially important. We, professional career advisers, will give you appropriate advice tailored to your individual needs from self-analysis to job interview skills. Please make full use of our services.
KOHARA Kazuko, Career development adviser, Minoh campus
I provide counseling services on Wednesday mornings. Please feel free to ask me about employment and career development, self-analysis, how to write a resume, and job interview skills. We will help you to choose the future path which best suits your capabilities through counseling. The counseling room is not crowded on Wednesday mornings. Please make good use of our services.
IWASAKI Asuka, Career development adviser, Minoh campus
Hi! I'm Asuka Iwasaki. I graduated from the Swedish Department of the former Osaka University of Foreign Studies. I've had experience in foreign companies and jobs using language skills. I look forward to trying to support your career development. You'll spend a good portion of your life doing some kind of job so what you do is important. I want to help you do what you can do in job hunting.
I'm a mother of two sons going in primary school. Girls hoping to balance family life and work, please make good use of our services too!
NIIDA Kumiko, Career development adviser, Minoh campus
You already have the ability to achieve your goals. Let's objectively assess your good points, points to work on, sense of value, and human qualities. Clarify your challenges and direction and build your confidence. We will help you to find what you really want to do and an appropriate job. Let me help you bring out the best in you.
NISHIDA Naoko, Career development adviser, Toyonaka campus
I provide counseling services on Monday mornings and Friday evenings. Your first job may be a turning point of your life. Actually, I coped with difficulties in finding a job in the so-called Employment Ice Age. Calling upon my experiences, I feel I can give you some advice as a career development adviser. I will help you write an attractive resumé and perform well in job interviews. Please don't hesitate to ask for advice.
MORITA Eriko, Career development adviser, Minoh campus
I provide counseling services on Thursday mornings. Getting to know yourself objectively is important in finding a job. Let's think of strategies to get a job that fits your characters and abilities. Please make good use of our services.
YOSHIDA Tamae, Career development adviser, Minoh campus
I provide counseling services on Friday evenings. I used to work for a listed company in recruitment. Using such experiences, I will give you advice from the viewpoint of employers. Let's win in this tough job market, hand in hand!
