Ethan Gastmeier, Eisenhower High School Class of 2022, has found himself in awe of how much he has grown since he began studying abroad in Nagoya, Japan last September.

“Studying in Nagoya has helped me considerably,” Gastmeier said. “I have become conversational in Japanese and can speak my way through most situations now.”

Gastmeier graduated from Utica Community Schools with nearly a full year’s worth of college credit from various Advanced Placement classes and his Dual Enrollment Japanese course at Oakland Community College.

“Dual enrollment helped give me the opportunity to earn credits toward my major while still in high school, as well as being a fantastic early college experience. It helped give me a head start at college that many other students didn’t have,” said Gastmeier. “It was definitely the right decision for me.”

Gastmeier will complete the academic school year at Nanzan University and return to Oakland University to finish his studies. From there, he is not sure what career he will pursue but he would love to work in Japan after he graduates.

“I would tell current students to take risks in their academic careers and try something outside of their comfort zone,” Gastmeier shared. “Be open to all sorts of ideas and ways of living; the world is wide.”

“By broadening your horizons, I believe anyone can grow and become a better person.”