Student Spotlight: Ryotaro Okada

In 2019, Ryotaro Okada came to UC Davis with a dream. An ESL student from Ritsumeikan University in Japan, he dreamed of becoming a theme park designer in the United States.

As a child, Okada always loved going to theme parks, and as he grew older, he began making concrete plans to turn his fascination into a career. When he learned that the United States is one of the leading countries in the world for the theme park industry, he knew he needed to move. Okada applied to UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s Global Study Program to bolster his English-language skills and gain the foundation he needed to study in the U.S.

“I decided to participate in the Global Study Program because I knew it was important to improve my English skills and get used to the American education system before I started studying at an American graduate school,” Okada said.

The Global Study Program at UC Davis not only strengthened his English-language skills, but it also gave him valuable experiences and a network of friends and faculty who helped guide him along the path to fulfilling his goals.

“It is very hard to take classes every day and complete assignments in an unfamiliar environment, using English that is not your native language,” Okada remembered of his time in the Global Study Program. “But I learned the importance of stepping out of the current situation and taking action to accept new challenges and gain new perspectives.” While in Davis, Okada fully embraced his study-abroad experience. He joined local clubs, became a Japanese tutor, participated in student groups and workshops related to architecture, and attended job fairs. “Through those opportunities, I met more people and learned a lot, which I might have never been able to if I did not take any action.”

Back in Japan, when Okada was ready to start applying to U.S. grad schools, he admitted that he initially felt lost. “No one around me was planning to go to graduate school in the U.S.,” he said. “But I was able to overcome the challenges of applying thanks to the support of many people I had met at Davis.” His native English-speaking friends helped him prepare for his TOEFL and GRE exams and he received advice on his applications from one of his former UC Davis professors.

In September 2021, Okada began his studies at UCLA’s Graduate Program in Architecture. During his winter break, he made a special trip to Davis. “Davis is one of my hometowns now,” he said. He spent Christmas with his former homestay family, whom he said cared for him like one of their own, and he visited the UC Davis campus.

He said what he enjoyed most about his time in Davis was the idyllic atmosphere, something similar to what he feels in Japan. “Whenever I breathe in, I can enjoy the scent of nature, and the people in Davis are very friendly and gentle,” he explained. “When I was studying in Davis, I did not realize it’s so precious. But, now that I am living in Los Angeles, I am surprised to see how different the atmosphere is.”

“I’ll be back to Davis, for sure!” Okada said. In the meantime, he’s settling in at grad school, working hard to achieve the next step in pursuit of his dream.

About the Global Study Program

The Global Study Program at UC Davis is a unique academic study program, offering the opportunity for international students from select universities to enroll in a wide varity of UC Davis courses from nearly all of the university's colleges and departments. Students earn University of California academic credit for courses they successfully complete, which can be applied to degree requirements at universities around the world. Learn more