International Student Graduation Celebration Student Remarks

"Thank you very much. Let me begin by thanking the Alumni Association and International Reach for providing me with this opportunity to talk about my wonderful journey that I have had here in Madison. Also, please allow me to thank my parents, Kayoko and Katsumi Shibuya, and my long-time girlfriend, Kathryn Wyman, who have helped me from time to time and told me to keep my head up when times were rough. Without their support, I would not be standing here today.

As a history major, I have learned the importance of understanding our past in order for us to have a better future. Professor Jeremi Suri of the History Department, who over time has also become my mentor, taught me to talk about big ideas and to have serious engagements with others to discuss issues that matter to all of us. However, what struck me the most, as I look back on my college career is how this university shaped the values and perspectives that I will hold onto for the rest of my life.

As an international student, I have learned the true meaning of what it means to become a global citizen. I strongly believe that we, as international students, constitute the frontline of globalization on this campus, the state of Wisconsin, and we are and will exemplify who global citizens are and what characterizes the 21st century global citizenship. Throughout my college career, I have come to the realization that it is simply not good enough to just acknowledge the different cultures and values that this world consists of. But, a 21st century global citizen must also have the ability to identify the common goods and goals of this world and aggressively make an individual effort to strive for such ideals that the world collectively tries to reach. Therefore, we, the global community of UW-Madison, cannot scatter away from the reality of the world.

I have also learned the importance of the Wisconsin Idea. In 1904, UW President, Charles Van Hise, introduced the principle of the Wisconsin Idea, which states that education should influence and improve people's lives beyond the university classroom. To this day, UW-Madison has lived to the promise that President Charles Van Hise made; a university that is willing to reach out to our communities and make ideas and resources that are generated in the university classroom available for common good. I believe, in the 21st century, this principle of the Wisconsin Idea, that aims to positively influence the discourse of our communities, should also be applied to shape the future being of this world. Knowledge that this institution accumulates, resources that it establishes, and innovative thinking which students demonstrate must reflect the world reality and must be available to help solve the world's toughest problems that we commonly face today like global warming, international terrorism, or poverty.

In 2007, I took a class from Professor Matthew Hitchman, and one day, he introduced to the class, "if the world were 100 people". If the world were 100 people offered an accurate description of the world population proportionally represented by 100 individuals based on criteria such as age, nationality, gender, religion, and language. So, if the world were a village with 100 people, the village would have 60 Asians, 14 Africans, 12 Europeans, 8 Latin Americans, 5 Americans and Canadians, and 1 South Pacific Islander. 51 of those would be male and 49 would be female. 82 of them would be non-white and 18 are white. 80 would live in substandard housing, 67 would be unable to read, and 50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation. 33 people would be without access to a safe water supply and 24 would not have electricity. Only 7 people would have access to the Internet and only 5 of those 100 people would control 32% of the entire world's wealth. And, lastly, in this global village that consists of 100 people, only 1 person would have a college education.

This is the reality of the world in which we all live and embrace everyday. About three weeks from today, I will be walking down the stage of the Kohl Center to receive my diploma with my fellow graduates. And, yet I also know that this diploma comes with the responsibility. The responsibility to help those 67 people who cannot read the newspaper or those 33 people, including children, who do not have a safe water supply so that they die from diseases that we will never have to encounter. In doing so and to make this effort successful, one must exercise this global citizenship and practice the Wisconsin Idea all over the world. My only wish is that those who cannot read or do not have enough food to put on the table will someday get an opportunity to go to college just like I did, so that they could learn and find meaning in their lives like I did here on this campus.

So, I am extremely thankful to this institution, the professors, mentors, and friends that I have met over the course of the last 5 years. They all helped to shape my values, introduced new perspectives, and challenged my judgment. And, those memories and principles of the life that I have made and earned here on this campus will stay with me for the rest of life. I do not know what the future looks like for me, now. But, I say this with a firm conviction that I will try my best to represent this university and work hard to make Wisconsin proud. Congratulations to the 2008 international graduates and Go Badgers.

Thank you"