When I first arrived at Kyudai in 1994, I was 21 years old and heading into my last year of university. Intellectually speaking, my life had just begun. I had no idea what to expect in Japan, and I was equally nervous and excited.
Now five years later, the thing I remember most fondly is the people of Kyudai. Personally speaking, my year at Kyudai was the best I've ever had. Most of my classmates feel the same way. The friends I made while there remain the closest I have. And although we live scattered throughout the world, we remain very close and see each other surprisingly often considering the distance.
Classes and social interaction at Kyudai exposed me to viewpoints and opinions I had never before considered. As a result, my career has taken a decidedly different path than it might have. Upon my return to the U.S., my experiences at Kyudai made me very different than many of my law school classmates. Furthermore, my Japanese language ability helped me to be chosen to accompany Vice President Gore in December of 1997 to the United Nations' Environmental Conference in Kyoto, despite still being a student.
After I graduate from law school this May, I will be employed as a Japanese trade specialist by a major U.S. law firm. I chose this firm because of its Tokyo office and extensive Japanese clientele. Although I intend to practice law for the foreseeable future, I look forward to the time when I will be able to apply the lessons I learned at Kyudai in the service of my country, hopefully through the U.S. Department of State.
（クリス君はモンデール大使の左後ろ）