I’ve had the goal to attend CIEE’s Anime & Manga in Pop Culture program in Tokyo, Japan, since my sophomore year. I was thrilled to be accepted into the program and even received a scholarship, but an unexpected financial situation with my mother’s medical bills meant I had to pass up the opportunity. It was heartbreaking to let go of my dream, and for a while, I felt frustrated and upset, thinking I had let myself down and missed my only chance. Drawing, which had always brought me joy, started to feel discouraging.

But I refused to let obstacles stop me from pursuing my passion for art. Instead of giving up, I kept drawing and creating, using the time I would have spent in Japan to prepare my own manga and take commissions. While I was still sad about not being able to go abroad, I chose to move forward and work toward another opportunity. Art has always been important to me because it’s challenging, even when you have the right tools. It takes patience and the willingness to keep going, even when things are hard. I focused on the opportunities I still had to improve my skills, and I never lost sight of my dream.

The CIEE program offers an experience I could never gain on my own—a full immersion in anime and manga, with workshops, activities, and discussions that will help me understand what it takes to become a professional mangaka and illustrator. By being in Tokyo, I’ll gain firsthand experience and a better understanding of the industry. My goal is to publish a one-shot manga and submit it to a contest or publisher, and this program is a crucial step toward making that dream a reality.

Cost breakdown:

Flight Cost: $3,200


• Covers the round-trip airfare needed to travel to the program location! 
  

Funds: $500


• Funds will help cover daily and learning expenses, including: Food , Art supplies, transportation, and off-site experiences!
  

Any support you can give—whether it’s a donation or sharing my fundraiser—means the world to me and brings me closer to my dream.