5 Key Questions Answered from a UC Irvine International Relations Grad

Alum: Anthony Kunihiro
Class of: 2003
University: UC Irvine
Major: International Relations
Degree: BA
Current Title: Principal Consultant, Epiport Communications
1. What do you love most about your experience at school?
The academic experience was enriching with passionate professors and lecturers with diverse cultural, academic, industrial, and geographical experience. Although majority of the student body at UC Irvine are from California, a relatively large percentage of them are from immigrant families or are immigrants themselves who continue to have ties with their motherland.
2. What was an unexpected surprise you found out about your school after you got there?
10 weeks go by extremely quickly. That's the duration of each quarter at UC Irvine and it actually provides more flexibility to add additional courses or add new majors/minors. That's how I added the Management and Computer Science minors into my curriculum.
3. What challenge(s) did you face while attending your school?
Overcrowding. Registering for classes and actually getting a seat was a challenge each quarter. There was one quarter where I had 3 random classes registered just to be retain full-time status, and waitlist 5 other classes during the first week of the quarter hoping to get a seat. Being persistent and attending these lectures continuously (while hoping for other students to drop out of the class), I usually end up with the classes I've registered.
4. What would you tell yourself if you were a 1st year all over again?
I would have socialized more. As important as the courses are, a large part of the academic experience that actually makes a difference in one's future is going to be largely determined by those he/she meets. Try out the clubs, fraternities, events, etc. If it takes too much time out of one's study time, gradually drop out of them but keep the enriching friendships forged. One other thing: EAP (Study abroad program). While UC Irvine's student body is mostly domestic, one can gain world-class international experience with top academic institutions overseas for up to a year and meet interesting new friends who hail from all over the world who could make a significant impact in your life and even career mobility. I would have done it.
5. How has your school changed your life?
Deciding how to piece my academic background of International Relations, Management, and Computer Science together, I realized that it would make sense to go abroad and begin my career overseas since I didn't realize the importance of building international ties by studying abroad during the earlier years of my education. Thus, I started submitting resumes mainly to companies with offices in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore with the goal of living and working in Asia. After 3 years of university education, I set foot with a new job in Singapore, not knowing a single soul. It was the best decision in career preparation that I've made.
P.S.
There was no Business Administration major during my days in college. Several years after graduating, I found out that UC Irvine has since added the program into the curriculum.
Favorite Book in College:
Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life - Spencer Johnson, M.D.(Kindle Edition)
Favorite Song in College:
What's Luv? (Fat Joe Featuring Ja-Rule & Ashanti) (Explicit Album Version)
Anthony Kunihiro is a Japanese-American from Los Angeles who is the founder of Epiport Communications (Marketing Research, Strategy, and Technology Consulting). His interests lie in Marketing, following business trends, web technology, new dining experiences, wine, and traveling. He primarily eats, sleeps, works, and plays in Tokyo and Singapore, however he can also be seen in other Asian cities from time to time.









