My name is Kelcie Benson and I have lived in Indiana my whole life, born and raised, and in my hometown I live in a full house with 6 people, 3 cats, and 2 dogs. We're a rowdy bunch! My family has supported me in all my endeavors and I've always felt it and am so grateful.

I am a fourth year student pursuing two majors at IUPUI: Global and International Studies and Japanese Studies. I have been fascinated with cultures for many years of my life, now, but what brought me to that point was the Japanese culture. I first discovered it through a manga (Japanese comic) I found in my middle school's library. I wanted to see if the cultural references were true, so I began doing research and found out I also really like the language. Therefore, I decided that my college years would involve something with Japanese studies. Hopefully, when I've graduated from school, I can travel to different places around the world, including Japan - it will always have a special place in my heart.

I am a member of the Japanese Culture Club on campus and, though I may not be a member in the specific clubs, I participate in most of the events dealing with international and cultural aspects. One of my favorites is IUPUI's annual International Fashion Show. I love the events held on campus; they have such great atmospheres and a sense of community. 

I am participating in the study abroad program called Japan: Japanese Language and Culture for a calendar year. Of course, I was especially drawn to this program because of my interest in Japanese language and culture. When I was looking up programs, I came across this one with a sister school in Japan. I heard of the help we receive for tuition and housing, as well as the friendly staff and atmosphere of the school. I couldn't pass up the chance to experience it myself!