International Student Hontasu Kabu Finds Growth, Community, and New Dreams at Westfield State University

Hontasu Kabu, Class of 2025, is a business administration major at Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan, a partner institution of Westfield State University through international exchange programs. Part of her journey as an international student has been embracing campus life, which she’s done by joining the tennis club and University chorus.

For international students like Kabu, meeting academic qualifications, such as maintaining a specific GPA and demonstrating English language proficiency, is essential before studying in the United States. For Kabu, Westfield State’s reputation for strong communication courses stood out when deciding where she wanted to go. “The communication classes are really famous and popular among students,” she shared, recalling what she had heard back in Japan.

This is Kabu’s second time studying in the United States, with the first being her time studying abroad in Madison, Wisconsin. Enamored by her time there, she returned to the United States with the freedom to explore subjects that piqued her interest, since having already completed required business courses. For Kabu, this free time meant delving into communications classes, despite having chosen business administration as her practical field of study. The opportunity to combine both disciplines, she believes, will help open doors for her future career.

Kabu praised the University for its rigorous academics, commenting on the importance of homework along with the interactive nature of group projects and presentations. Because English is her second language, she described the difficulty of breaking out of her shell and comfort zone, which ultimately “broadened her mind.” Adjusting to the volume of homework helped her sharpen her time management skills and taught her how to balance multiple assignments at once. Kabu has even discovered a passion for the human resource field, where communication and customer service skills are key.

Outside the classroom, Kabu’s job in the Dining Commons pushed her further out of her shell and enhanced her customer service skills. Working at stations where she could directly interact with customers provided invaluable experience, especially as she prepares for a future role as a flight attendant. “I not only learned about customer service, but also about food culture,” she explained. “I’ve gotten to see a lot of international foods I’ve never heard of or tried, so those new experiences helped to broaden my mind too.”

The International Programs Office also played a key role in helping Kabu feel connected and supported during her time at Westfield State. Through events like cruise trips, cultural celebrations, and the annual International Education Week Reception, the office fostered a sense of community. Kabu emphasized how important it was to connect with peers who shared similar experiences, commenting, “We all came from different backgrounds,” she said. “We all speak in our second and third languages, and we left our home, so we know how hard it is. We support each other, and they know me at my best and worst. They definitely made my experience great, too.”

Academically, one of the highlights of Kabu’s semester abroad was her experience in three communications courses: global communication, communication ethics, and public relations, with her favorite being global communication. “As an international student, I got to learn more about stereotypes in the world, the history that caused them, and what people are trying to do in getting rid of these stereotypes,” she said.

For students thinking about studying internationally, Kabu encourages those who are interested to take risks and explore options, commenting, “You get to be connected to amazing people all over campus, including professors and staff. These are friendly, supportive people who care about you.”

Additionally, she praised the University for its resources that offer extra support and community to those who need it, ultimately streamlining international students’ experiences while abroad.  “Even though I didn’t get to use everything, I knew where to get help if I needed it, which was really nice. Orientation for that was useful.”

Reflecting on her own experience, Kabu expressed admiration for her peers’ dedication to their studies and dreams, as well as to the University itself for facilitating students’ personal growth. “Students here really want to pursue their dreams and study for them, and they chose to come here. I love the diversity. It’s scary to leave your home and friends because they’re your comfort zone, but there are so many other people who will be by your side. It’s worth it for your own growth. There are so many things I wouldn’t know about if I didn’t come here, including things about myself and my life.” One of my favorite sayings that I picked up from another exchange organization is, ‘It’s not a semester in life, it’s a life in a semester.’ And I think that’s true.”