This article is a record of interviews conducted by first-year SPSF students with their seniors who completed graduation theses. For more details, please see here.

Interviewee: Natsuki Hibi (Department of Sociology, Year 4)
Interviewer: Ikumi Nagase (Department of Sociology, Year 1)

Her own experiences as a deaf individual, such as feeling ignored by her friends, led her to realize that Japanese society, especially in the workplace, where people spend most of their time, is not yet fully accepting of People Living with Disabilities. One challenge she faced in writing her research paper was finding people to interview. One approach she tried was creating a business card and handing it out at job-hunting events to help expand her network for interviews.

Her interest in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) extends beyond her time at Sophia University and into her future career. Natsuki will work for a company where she can promote DEI and help create a society where diversity is seen as a strength. “Diversity” is the core of her life, and SPSF is a place where people with various backgrounds are accepted and encouraged to develop their uniqueness through the support of professors and friends over four years. With the freedom of university life and the supportive atmosphere of a small community, SPSF provides an environment where students can explore their interests more deeply.