The trip took the rising senior one step closer to her goal of becoming a diplomat or working in another area of international relations. “It was amazing,” she said of the two-week, fully funded trip. “Truly amazing.”
Jennings was one of twelve students nationwide chosen for the Japan–US Friendship Commission’s Summer Institute, a professional development program that prepares future leaders in US–Japan relations. The Commission is an independent federal agency that was formed by Congress in 1975.
Jennings discovered the Commission's institute for undergraduates and recent graduates last fall when she was searching for an internship in US-Japan relations. “I read the eligibility requirements and goals of the program, and they described me in every bullet point.”
Jennings, who grew up in upstate New York, has been studying Japanese since eighth grade, when she persuaded her mom to sign her up for after-school lessons. Her fascination with Japan began with the films of Hayao Miyazaki. “I loved the language,” she said. “And watching the films, you see Japanese culture.”
That early interest led to years of study—first on her own and now at Bowdoin, with Bowdoin's Asian studies department. She also spent the past academic year studying abroad with Columbia University's Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies.
The Summer Institute
This spring, Jennings and her cohort of American students prepared for their summer travels in a virtual seminar. Lecturers discussed topics ranging from the history of Japan’s economy to youth representation in politics.
The experience culminated in an immersive two-week tour of Japan in June, and included visits to Aflac’s Tokyo headquarters, the US embassy, the National Diet Building, and several university campuses.
“We learned about a lot of different topics, many focused on how people are contributing to the US-Japan relationship,” Jennings said.
Along the way, Jennings shared her Bowdoin experience with Japanese college students, handing out polar pear swag and introducing them to the College. “They loved it!” she said.
The experience, Jennings said, highlighted “the importance of the future of the US-Japan friendship and what is being done to strengthen ties between the two countries.”
