I am an International Studies and Asian Studies double major at the University of Michigan, where I specialized in Japanese language and culture. As a student, I traveled all over Japan, and lived in Tokyo, Hokkaido, and the Tohoku area. I studied the language/culture through immersion in the former locations, and volunteered in the latter. Prior to my university studies, I was a professional spoken word artist, and tutored students in both poetry and public speaking. I am passionate about helping students become powerful speakers, both in Japanese and English. I believe the strongest tools we have are our voices, and I enjoy guiding students to find theirs.