Risako Ninomiya ‘13 is a researcher and educator passionate about advancing equity in higher education. She entered HPA in the sixth-grade as a boarder but returned to Japan after graduation to earn her degree at Waseda University, where she also participated in a study-abroad program at Yale University. Risa worked as a teacher and an educational content developer while leading multiple research projects for empowering young women in workplaces and education and supporting children with learning disabilities. In the fall of 2021, Risa began pursuing a master’s degree in International Comparative Education at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, where she is currently studying institutional policies that promote diversity in universities, especially gender equality.
Each January, HPA convenes a panel of graduates to share advice and stories about life after HPA with our seniors. This Q&A occurred during our Young Alumni Day 2023.
After graduating from HPA, did you feel well-prepared for life after high school?
Yes. I was a boarding student since the 6th grade, and I think it really strengthened my self-time-management skills. I know how to make and keep my own schedule for myself because I have had to do it since I was 11 years old. I also know how to make myself happy when I’m stressed. That really helped prepare me for life in college. When I first arrived at HPA, I was an international student from Japan. It was my first time communicating in English — I couldn’t speak any English at all — so my classmates and my roommates helped me a lot. And through that, I was really able to connect with people at HPA, and I believe that being able to communicate with people from around the world and embracing different cultures really helped me navigate life after high school.
What was your favorite part of your HPA experience? What made it so unique?
My favorite part of my HPA experience was boarding life because I was able to build a family of friends and a community. I still keep in touch with all of them. My first roommate from when I was in the 6th grade became my roommate again in the 12th grade, and she’s my closest friend still. We visit each other each year even though she lives in Korea —except during the pandemic — but we’re planning it again for this year. Having a community that welcomes me always is definitely my favorite part of my HPA experience.
How did you figure out what you wanted to do as a career?
I realized that I am passionate about teaching because I was tutoring and teaching during college, and I realized this could be a career. I did several internships at tech companies and consulting banking — and I just didn’t like them. I realized that my passion is for education. Now, I want to become a researcher, but I’m working to clarify exactly what I want to do in the future — but I determined I wanted to be a researcher by pursuing my Master’s degree. Doing things that you might be interested in and then figuring out whether you do or don’t like it is a really helpful way to figure out your career.
If you were each hiring for a position, what would you look for in HPA graduates?
Before coming to graduate school, I was leading a non-profit organization in Japan for three years and if I were hiring for a position, I would probably look for boldness or not being afraid of failing. Personally at HPA, there’s an atmosphere where people are always there to support you if you fail, and I was failing every day — not being able to communicate well, or breaking the rules and getting scolded by teachers. But every time I failed, teachers and my friends were there to support me. So I would look for someone who is not afraid of failing, and who can also support others.