Rem Ohta

Alumnus and former Capstonian, basketball player, skier, and student leader of the ski and board club, Rem Ohta capitalized on three tough years at HIS to grow into one of the most resilient Huskies around.

Nationality

Japanese

Where are you from? Where are you living now? What are you doing?

I was born in Hokkaido and lived there until I moved away for college.

I was just accepted to one of my top universities and I'll probably be living in Tokyo by the time you read this:)

I'll be studying mathematical science at Waseda University.

When did you graduate from HIS? How many years did you spend there?

2023

I began studying at HIS in my sophomore year and graduated here 3 years later.

Why did you choose HIS?

I chose HIS because I found an opportunity here to improve my English. I dreamed of working abroad, however, the language barrier was always an issue, and I wanted to overcome that obstacle first. I can tell you from my experiences that HIS has a great environment to boost your English ability. 

What’s one of your favorite memories from HIS?

My favorite memories at HIS are spending time with my classmates outside of academics. For example, I enjoyed hiking in 大雪山 on my senior trip. I also loved playing basketball with my teammates after school.

What was your favorite class, and which class helped you prepare the most after college?

My favorite class was AP Capstone with Mr. Pangier. The class was difficult in general and had many assignments to be completed. Although I was often struggling with deadlines, I enjoyed it. I felt that the more I overcame obstacles the smarter I became. I do not doubt that this class made me confident in problem-solving. Although I’m not sure yet how my experience in Capstone will benefit me in my university life, it did help me interview well. When my interviewers asked me what was something that I accomplished in the past, I told them all about Capstone. It worked wonderfully :)

What will you major in? 

I will study mathematical science. I was one of the best students in HIS when it came to solving equations.

What was the most valuable experience you had at HIS and how is that experience continuing to help you today?

The most valuable experience I had at HIS is my school life itself. My first year at HIS was intense due to two major reasons: I had a language barrier and was treated harshly by several students. Nevertheless, I ignored the disturbance and focused on improving my academics. I did the right thing because I became more mature and resilient compared to 10th-grade-me. On the day of graduation, I realized how much I had grown. I appreciate the environment at HIS because it made me a stronger person who can overcome obstacles.   

How are your experiences at HIS helping you in your adult life?

As mentioned above, I became smarter and more mentally stable thanks to the experiences I had at HIS. My intelligence has become sharp. I have also become better at handling pressure and focusing on a single task. In other words, I am now ready to face more difficult challenges.  

Which moment in HIS would you like to relive and why? Would you do anything differently?

I cherish the time I played basketball with my teammates after school. It was always fascinating since it was a moment to unleash the burden of academics. Having said that, I slightly regret that I didn’t study harder at school. If I have a chance to return to my high school, I’ll focus more on improving my grades.   

What do you get up to in your free time?

I usually work out in the gym when I have free time. It is sometimes replaced with playing board games or reading books. Anything is allowed — as long as it doesn't include scrolling through digital devices. 

What's your favorite book? Movie? Why?

My favorite book is Factfulness written by Swedish statistician Hans Rosling. The book taught me the proper way to analyze worldwide data, which is essential when it comes to studying mathematical science at my university. My favorite movie is Schindler’s List which is based on a real story during WW2. It reminds us that no matter how the world is turned into a barbaric slaughterhouse there is always a faint glimmer of civilization left.   

What advice would you like to give to current Huskies about how to make every moment count, during HIS and beyond? What advice would you give graduating Huskies?

I’ll say to choose the harder pathways. This concept can be applied in every circumstance. For example, Choose Capstone over the ordinary literature class. Join the basketball team which is more hardcore and intense than the other sports. Play chess with opponents who are likely to defeat you. You will often feel mentally stressed when you choose the more difficult options. Nevertheless, the hard times that you’re going to endure will make you a better version of yourself in the long term. You should sacrifice your current comfort to acquire greater success in the future. Your life becomes more joyful when you realize how much you’ve grown.