Refugees Changed My Values

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JAPAN Forward has launched "Ignite," a series to share the voices of students in Japan in English. How do they see re f ugees and mig r ants, borders and social responsibility, all hot topics in today's world? Individually and collectively, the next generations are already opening our eyes and shaping our global future.

This seventeenth essay introduces another winning work of the Institute for International Business Communication (IIBC) high school student English essay contest. Ririko Yuya, a student at Meiji University, Meiji High School, shares insights she learned from refugees she encountered while living abroad. Whether it's about ourselves or others, we can all learn from her insights. Let's listen.

Seventeenth in the Series, 'Ignite'

Ririko Yuya, Winner of the 2024 IIBC Special Award for Her English Language Essay

One of the most significant events that profoundly influenced my values was my experience during my study abroad in France, when I encountered refugees who were involved in collecting school supplies and raising funds to support poor countries. These individuals, who were themselves refugees, faced extreme hardships, lacking even basic necessities such as food and shelter.

Despite their difficult circumstances, they remained committed to helping others, driven by a strong sense of responsibility and empathy. When they told me, "We are working to bring happiness to everyone. The relay of helping is a relay of happiness," their words pierced my heart and stayed with me.

Motives for Helping Others

Before this encounter, I had always taken pleasure in serving as the HR committee member and camp leader, roles in which I thrived and found fulfillment. However, this experience forced me to reflect deeply on my motivations.

I realized that my joy in being appreciated for helping others was, in part, driven by an unconscious desire for recognition and personal satisfaction. This realization led me to critically reassess my approach to helping others, and I felt a profound sense of remorse for the self-serving nature that had underpinned my actions.

The refugees, on the other hand, were not seeking any form of recognition or reward. They were engaged in these activities purely out of a sense of duty and a belief in the importance of helping others. Their actions were driven by the simple yet powerful idea that they had been helped, and therefore, it was only natural to help others in return.

This attitude struck me as being closely aligned with [Emmanuel] Kant's categorical imperative, which emphasizes acting according to principles that could be universally applied as a moral law. The refugees' selflessness and their commitment to what they believed to be the right course of action deeply inspired me and led me to a new understanding of what it means to help others.

A Renewed Sense of Purpose

Motivated by the values I learned from these refugees, I have since approached my volunteer and committee activities with a renewed sense of purpose. I strive to act not for the sake of recognition or personal gain, but because I genuinely believe in the importance of contributing to the well-being of others.

This shift in perspective has also influenced how I interact with my peers. I now make a conscious effort to encourage and inspire those around me to engage in acts of kindness and support, emphasizing the collective benefit of our efforts rather than individual recognition.

In the end, my encounter with these refugees not only changed the way I view volunteering and helping others, but it also fundamentally reshaped my understanding of human relationships and our responsibilities to one another. The lesson they taught me — the idea that "the relay of helping is a relay of happiness" — has become a guiding principle in my life, one that continues to influence my actions and decisions every day.

Through this experience, I have come to realize that true fulfillment comes not from what we receive, but from what we are able to give to others.

About the Author

Ririko Yuya was a third-year student at Meiji University, Meiji High School, when she contributed this essay in 2024. Upon winning the IIBC Special Essay Award, she shared these remarks:

"I am deeply honored to receive this wonderful award. During my year studying abroad in France, I met many refugees. I was deeply moved by their willingness to help others despite their own precarious circumstances, and by their words, 'A relay of help is a relay of happiness.' [Therefore], I will continue to hold this belief in my heart and strive to walk alongside others. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers who supported me and to all those involved in hosting the contest."