Faculty of International Studies Voice: Starting your own business

Ms. Tateura, a fourth-year student in the Department of English in the Faculty of International Studies, has been playing golf since childhood and started her own business as a golf instructor while still in school (SHUI GOLF). We asked her what made her decide to start her own business while pursuing her studies.

My way of thinking changed during my college life

I started playing golf at the age of 3 and continued to play until college. I chose this university because it has a golf driving range on its spacious campus and I knew that it had produced strong players in the past. I also wanted to study English, so the university's focus on studying abroad and international exchange were also attractive to me.

After enrolling in the Faculty of International Studies, I changed my way of thinking. I took classes conducted in English by foreign faculty members, and here I was often asked to assert "who you are and what you want," and the idea that "you are unique" was the norm.

The classes incorporate an educational method called active learning, in which students are actively encouraged to present and communicate their own opinions and ideas. Because I was in an environment where other students and faculty members did not deny my ideas and individuality, I came to respect my own ideas more than before and felt inclined to take action on my own.

Studying in such an environment helped me to be more engaged in my studies and strengthened my desire to think about what I really want to do in the future from an early age.

What made you decide to start a business?

While in school, I worked part-time as a golf instructor because my sister, a professional golfer, appreciated my teaching ability.  The golf studio where I worked also had foreign national staff which enabled me to use the English language skills I had developed at NUCB.

When I was teaching students, I felt  rewarded when they reported their best scores and thanked me for my guidance. I realized that in the future, I would like to provide quality instruction to those who want to enjoy golf and truly improve their game, so I decided to start my own business as a professional instructor when I was a sophomore in college.

Although my knowledge of management was limited and I had some concerns because I would be doing it in parallel with my studies, I was able to start my company based on what I had learned at NUCB. As for my academic work, I was able to make a schedule, work on assignments, and balance it with my studies to teach as an instructor because I had been in the habit of thinking for myself and working hard since my first year.

Future Outlook

I want to continue to support those who are working hard to improve their golf game so they can also aim to become professional junior golfers.

To do so, I will never neglect to learn more about how the human body and the form required to produce a good shot. I want to become a teaching professional golfer who can communicate my knowledge and skills to others and help them develop their abilities.