Mr. Kris Hadian Permana, an IGS fourth-year student, participated in the “International Student Speech Contest in Japanese in Hiroshima 2022” held by the Kiwanis Club of Hiroshima on July 23 and won the first prize.

In his speech titled "The Happiness Brought to Me by the Corona," he shared the happiness he found during the Covid-19 epidemic. He talked about how he could find happiness even under the Covid pandemic, interacting with children as a part-time supporter at a kindergarten, using his time alone to think about his purpose in life, and recognizing his connection with family and friends.

This is a comment from Kris Hadian: 1st-place prize winner of the International Student Speech Contest in Japanese in Hiroshima 2022.

In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, I lost my part-time job at a restaurant, so I looked for another part-time job and ended up working at a nursery school. As I interacted with Japanese children, I was able to find happiness. That experience taught me that happiness can be found anywhere, even during a pandemic. This is my second time participating in a Japanese speech contest, and although I was nervous, I felt I could deliver my message very well. I would like to make the most of this experience in the future.