Yoshi graduated from St. Paul Central High School in 2019 and currently attends the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (UMN-TC), where he will graduate this spring 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.
During freshman year at UMN-TC, Yoshi was pretty involved in various extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his ability to remain involved was disrupted and he eventually lost motivation to stay engaged. However, Yoshi does recommend UB students participate in extracurriculars while in college and said, “Some of my current college friends were people I met during my freshman year when I got involved.”
As a current UMN-TC senior, Yoshi is enjoying college and his ability to take the classes he wants. He also works part-time and spends time planning out his next news pitches. During these times, Yoshi makes phone calls and emails perspective interviewees. He mentioned that 80% of the time, people are willing to do an interview and said it helps that none of his current work is published on any platform. When asked if college was everything he expected, Yoshi said, “Yeah. I didn’t have too big of expectations when it came to college. I knew that I was going to struggle, but I didn’t give up.”
Yoshi’s typical day includes his morning routine, followed by spending a decent amount of time reading the news, which is heavily encouraged as a journalism student. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Yoshi hops on the light rail and goes to his classes. His first class on those days is Journalism 3451, held at the KSTP broadcasting station, where the focus is on news broadcasting and radio production. This is probably his most hands-on class and is also his favorite to attend. Yoshi then goes to his Chinese Films class. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, his first class is AMES Graphic Novels, followed by Podcast Production, which is also a very fun and demanding class.
When asked how UB helped him prepare for college, Yoshi stated, “UB got me through the application process and got me used to being away from home. The whole college application process is confusing if you don’t have some guidance or people to keep you motivated. I remember hating those days when I had the day off, but UB had us come in to do our FAFSA and college resumes. However, if it wasn’t for those days, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be in college at the moment.” Yoshi’s advice for our current UB students is to try not to take things too seriously when in college. He wants students to remember they are not alone when they may feel at their lowest and that everyone in college may be just as confused and anxious. Yoshi also shared, “I was at my lowest point at the end of my junior year, but I managed to get some help and was motivated by friends and family to keep going forward. And if you need help, talk to someone. At the UMN-TC, we have support systems for students. Just be aware of the support systems at your college.”
UB would like to wish him a strong finish this spring!
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