About Miss. Maki Hirose
Miss. Maki Hirose is a junior year student from the Faculty of Theology. After studying in a junior college for two years, she came to Sophia University, and joined Sophia Racing.Her main roles are general management and accounting, and she backs up the team.
Why she decided to enter the Faculty of Theology
Miss Hirose wished to study abroad after she has graduated high school, and to do that, she needed to study English. Because she wanted to go abroad as soon as possible, instead of going to a University, she decided to go to a two year college, and entered Sophia junior college.
She studied law in the college seminar, but as she discovers new areas of study, she was beginning to wish to study wider area of study, such as humanities and theology. She picked the Faculty of Theology in Sophia University for her next place to study, because you can study about life ethics, dialog between religions and irenology as well as theology.
Why she wanted to study abroad?
Her turning point was a volunteering activity that she experienced in high school, where she got to know about 'child life specialist', who plays an important role in the field of medical care. Child life specialist is specialist personnel. Their job is to reduce the mental stress of children who are struggling from disease and are staying in a hospital, as much as possible, and support their growth. Although they are a part of the medical staff, they do not take part in any medical practice. Therefore, children recognize them as the people who doesn't hurt them, and can open out to them. They play a role as a bridge between the medical staff, the children, and their families.
In order to become a child life specialist, you need to study in places like USA or Canada. That is because the level of recognition of the job is low in Japan, and is not accepted as a qualification of the country.
"Then I must go abroad." She decided immediately.
Why she joined Sophia Racing?
She had interest in manufacturing from before entering Sophia University. for she has been studying in humanity courses, She could not take part in manufacturing directly, but she have always wished to do so. When she was glancing at a booklet which was handed out on the entrance ceremony of Sophia University, the phrase "Manufacture a Formula Car" caught her eye.
"Wow! This is what I was looking for! Students building a car!" she thought. She knew instinctually that this team can fulfill her desire to take part in manufacturing. She also knew it was right for her, because she had interest in cars. Without waiting to be asked, she went to see the leader herself and told him her will to join the team.
The interest to 'Making', which began from Origami
When she had visited Australia for student exchange, she had a chance to fold a Origami for a friend. "Maki, you're so good with your hands!" the students in Australia told her. Then she realized; "I myself am not that good with my hands. The thing is, Japanese in general are good at using their hands, compared to other people. Dexterity that comes from the traditional handicrafts and weavings sustains Japan". Just one origami was representing Japan as the country of 'making'.
Her Job
She says that her job is to provide an ideal environment for the manufacturing team to manufacture and for the drivers to drive.
She does accounting, general management, public relations, and therefore takes care of the finance of the team, organizes accommodations and meals during competitions, researches possible sponsors, etc. These jobs are essential to the team.
She does want to take part in the actual manufacturing, but she finds it hard to do because of the lack of knowledge and time. "I can do masking operations and pasting of the heat resistant board, but it would be really cool if I could do designing using CAD!" she said, looking a little bashful.
On the other hand, the ambitious Miss. Hirose willingly takes part in study sessions in order to understand the technologies used in cars, as much as possible.
The year of doing her utmost
To the question how she would describe this year, she answered, "It was a year of just doing my utmost for the team, not knowing anything. It was a year of the mixture of fun, interesting and busy, but I never had such a productive year in her life." Various groups that are in charge of different parts cooperate to build and drive one car. "It is only Sophia Racing that can give me the sensation and the experience of watching the car being made, and watching it run."
The technologies and experience of the former members, the sponsors and teachers that supported the team, and moreover, the efforts of the each member lead to the victory of the 2006 FASE Japan.
The stagehand of stagehand
Miss Hirose's contribution to Sophia Racing's victory in 2006 was actually a great deal. As for meals, she negotiated the menu of the packed lunch as well as the price, for the team that mainly consists of male members.When the members were building up with the excitement of victory, she was busy organizing the victory party.
In competitions, the spotlight goes on the manufacturing team and the drivers. The manufacturing team plays the stagehand role, but Miss. Hirose plays a stagehand role for this stagehand. A stagehand does not be thanked in words very often, but she says "I hope my jobs are contributing to the team."
To the question what she did in the University
She jointed Sophia Racing from junior year, and with less than a year, she is now busy seeking employment.
In the job interviews, there is one question that she is always asked.
That is;"What have you done in the University?" To this question, many students answer; "I was a member of the University circle." This is the typical answer, and this answer in itself is not very appealing. There must be specific examples that are appealing, and for Miss. Hirose, she has the perfect examples of what she has done in Sophia Racing. Because she wishes to get a job in a car industry or manufacturers, the examples of her experience in Sophia Racing are very useful.
Moreover, because she has experienced the negotiations between the engineers and managers in Sophia Racing, she also can talk about those in the job interviews. The interviewers seem to be very interested to this, she says.
The publicity of F-SAE
What she fully realizes through her job interviews is how low the publicity of F-SAE is n corporations. It is only the interviewers from car industries which sponsor F-SAE that knows a little about the competition. In other industries, F-SAE in hardly known. Miss. Hirose obviously explains about F-SAE to the interviewers who do not know about the competition, but that is to raise the publicity of F-SAE rather than to promote Miss. Hirose herself.
What she wishes to do after graduation
To the question what kind of posting she wishes to be at when she has been employed, she answers, "The same as now." For the corporation to change for the better, she would do her job with an altruistic manner rather than a self-seeking manner.
She says that after graduations, she wishes to observe the development of Sophia Racing and F-SAE, and also get involved as a former member. Moreover, if there is a free environment for the staff to suggest new project in the corporation that she enters, she would like to bring 'Student support' to the fore.
Miss. Hirose's graduation after her senior year will be a great loss for Sophia Racing. She is just too good a personnel for the team to give up.
Writer:Masaya Shibasaki
