On May 20th, Genesis Hanoi Secondary School was livelier than usual as Grade 7 and 8 Genees eagerly welcomed a special guest: Mr. Kitagawa – a senior psychology and career guidance expert from Japan, who has worked alongside many prominent business leaders in the Land of the Rising Sun.
During the sharing session, Mr. Kitagawa inspired students with his own childhood story from his love for football and manga to discovering what he truly loves in life. He guided the Genees through a journey of self-exploration, encouraging them to recognize their interests, abilities, and personalities. Through this process, he helped nurture self-respect, reinforce confidence in future career choices, and expand their understanding of six key career sectors using a real-world, relatable approach.
The session was filled with fascinating and inspiring insights. One of the highlights was when Mr. Kitagawa explained the origin of the word “career,” which originally referred to a “horse racetrack” in Western languages. From this image, he offered a new perspective: a career isn’t just about choosing a job, it’s about setting your own path, progressing through lived experiences, and leaving a mark through effort and passion. A “career,” therefore, is a purposeful and value-driven life journey, one that requires deep self-awareness and steadfast determination.
This meaningful session was part of the school’s roadmap to help Grade 7 and 8 students develop essential skills and plan for the future. And perhaps, from this very encounter, a quiet seed of aspiration has begun to sprout in the heart of each Genee ready to grow each day along their journey of self-discovery and future-building.