Name: Kayla
Hometown: USA
Work: Teacher and Model
Q: What brought you to Japan?
A: I came partially just to travel around for a bit, but also to live here; to meet a lot of other people.
Q: How has living in a different country changed your life?
A: When moving to Japan, I wanted to see another perspective of a wider world. Living in somewhat of the same place most of your life really limits you to that perspective, whether you’re aware of it or not. When I moved to Japan, I had this idea that I wanted to broaden my perspective, and I feel like that has definitely happened. I no longer have the same typical small-town American mindset that I used to have.
Q: What advice do you have for Black youth and creatives?
A: Put yourself out there. A lot of the opportunities that you miss are the ones that you just didn’t take. And that’s true for me, one hundred percent. I don’t put myself out that much, and that means I don’t get as many opportunities as people who are constantly putting themselves out there. I’m not saying that you have to grind, I don’t really care for the grind mentality. Have a healthy work-life balance, but meet other creatives and try to put yourself in that environment.