Finding His Footing: Hiroki Sekido’s Path to UC Davis

When Hiroki Sekido first moved from Japan to the United States, his English proficiency was limited. He enrolled in the Academic Engagement Track through UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s Access Programs, hoping to improve his English skills and build the confidence and academic foundation needed to study abroad. 

“It takes a lot of courage to leave the country where you have lived your whole life to study and live alone in a place with a different language and culture,” he said. “My first goal was simply to be able to speak English.” 

After completing the Academic Engagement Track, Hiroki transferred to Diablo Valley College, where he spent two years completing college coursework before entering UC Davis as a third-year student. Today, he is an international relations major, eager to draw on his international experience as he studies how countries interact politically, economically and culturally. 

“Since I have lived and studied in both Japan and the United States, I have become more interested in how different countries and cultures connect with each other,” said Hiroki. “In the future, I hope to use my degree in a job where I can work internationally and use both my Japanese background and my experience in the United States.” 

How did the Academic Engagement Track prepare you for community college? 

English was very difficult for me, so through the Academic Engagement Track, I was able to improve my English skills. I also learned about office hours. At Diablo Valley College, whenever I did not understand something in class, I tried to go to my professor’s office hours and ask questions. This helped me study more effectively. 

Why did you choose community college as your next step? 

I felt that studying in the U.S. would motivate me. I thought putting myself in an environment where students really want to study and learn would help me become more motivated as well. I also knew that Diablo Valley College has a strong record of students transferring to UC schools, so I saw it as a good opportunity for me. 

What was the transition to Diablo Valley College like? 

My first year at Diablo Valley College was difficult because I suddenly had to study at the same level as local students. At first, I struggled to keep up. However, in the Academic Engagement Track, I had many opportunities to give presentations in class, and having that experience helped me a lot and made the transition to giving presentations at Diablo Valley College easier. 

How did your experience at Diablo Valley College help you grow academically? 

I think the biggest way I changed was academically. During my first year, my grades were not very good, and there were times when I felt discouraged. However, by communicating more with my professors, I was able to get advice about how to study and how to improve my assignments. Sometimes, I also went to office hours before submitting assignments and received feedback. Because of that, I gradually earned better grades. 

How did you feel when you learned you had been admitted to UC Davis? 

At first, it didn’t really feel real that I had been admitted to UC Davis. However, as I started completing the admission process, I gradually began to feel more excited about it. 

How has your first quarter at UC Davis been so far? 

This is my first time studying under the quarter system. I had heard that classes move very quickly, and now that I am experiencing it, I feel that the pace really is very fast. I want to improve my time management and study more efficiently so that I can keep up with my classmates. 

What advice would you give someone who is unsure about studying abroad? 

I think it is worth trying at least once, because experiencing another country and seeing a different part of the world can become a very valuable experience.