Kera Perello shows many positive qualities, professionally and personally. She is an excellent full-time student, who has made Dean’s List numerous times and has been awarded four scholarships to attend a year-long study abroad program in Japan. She studies Chinese, Japanese and Korean language, has two part-time jobs on campus and one off campus. Although she has numerous accomplishments, her friends usually find out about them in “oh, by the way…” conversations. She has done Karate Club demonstrations across campus and participated in a conference promoting adoption. Perello also makes time for church activities and volunteering, and she hopes to get a job dealing with Japanese/American business relations after graduation. Eventually, she would like to pursue a M.B.A. in international business.
Hometown:
Houston, Texas
High School:
Westfield High School
Degree objective:
B.B.A. in international business, minor in Japanese
Expected graduation:
Fall 2007
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
In order to stay in school, I’ve had to get a lot of scholarships. My adoption agency, Spaulding for Children, based in Houston, Texas, has a fund called the Holland Scholarship, a two-year scholarship that I have been blessed to receive twice. I attended a year-long exchange program in Kyoto, Japan at the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, and to help with that I received the Murphy Foundation Scholarship, a STARS work stipend, and the Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Scholarship. Additionally, I received sponsorship from a woman by the name of Gay A. Roane during my stay in Japan. She is associated with Spaulding for Children and had heard of my studies and my financial situation, and she graciously helped to sponsor my stay in Kyoto. I was a former UGA Karate Club officer, I was on the Dean’s List and President’s List a few times, and I volunteer when I can, usually through my church, the Athens Church of Christ. In Japan, I was able to practice and train with a boxing club as well as train in Tae Kwon Do with a club at Kyoto University. I taught English and participated in several festivals geared toward advancing and promoting international relations in Japan with other countries and cultures.
Current Employment:
I’ve been working at the Interlibrary Loan Office in the Main Library since my freshman year. I find books to be sent to libraries all over the world. I decided to continue working there after I returned from Japan because my coworkers and boss make it a good environment in which to work. I also work at the Reed Hall mail room, sorting mail and packages. I’m just doing my small part to help make this campus run smoothly as possible. I also teach English online, a job I acquired in Japan and have tried to keep up here in the States.
I chose to attend UGA because…
I really didn’t even know what the University of Georgia was, but now I really love it and enjoy my stay here. I applied to Georgia State and UGA and another school since I knew my family wanted to move to Georgia after I graduated from high school. I didn’t want to be too far from them. I wasn’t sure I would like it here, but I do. I’m getting a good education, having wonderful experiences and enjoying my life here in Athens.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…chilling on North Campus or the SLC. The Karate Club keeps me going and active and at Ramsey a lot. My campus ministry is always a highlight of my week also.
When I have free time, I like…
…to read. I also love to sleep, simply because I don’t get enough of it. And I love trying to keep up on my boxing.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
…decided to be a business major just because my roommate was one. I had already changed my major twice. I talked with my roommate and asked her why she chose the Terry College of Business. Her reasons interested and appealed to me much more than any of my former choices, so I switched to pre-business, and I’ve loved it ever since.
My favorite place to study is…
…at my kitchen table, when it’s empty. I like being next to the food. When my roommates are home, I have to deflect to my second options, the SLC or the Library. I like the quiet too.
My favorite professor is…
…my international marketing professor, Roberto Friedmann. I only had him for a May semester class, but I really enjoyed the material and how he presented it. I liked how he spoke from experience and wasn’t afraid to tell it like it is when called for. I wish I could take the class again.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…my birthmother. I would love to sit down and just talk with her. I have so many questions about my family, her past, her present, her motivations and why she did what she did. I would also tell her thank you. I would make sure she knew that what she did for me was the best thing anyone could do or has ever done for me. I would reassure her if she had any regrets, and I would thank her again and again.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
…become some sort of musician in a Japanese rock band. Not only would I get to do what I love with music, but I’d also take over the management of the band and try to make it international, as is happening all over the music industry. I’d work hard, but I’d also play hard. And then open up my own recording label and scout and manage other talents.
After graduation, I plan to…
…work. I’m not sure where yet or with whom. Whatever and wherever I end up working – I’d love to go back to Japan – I know I’m going to make the most of it and do my best because that’s all I can do!
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…the times at school right before I went to Japan and right after I came back. I was really afraid to go on foreign study at first, especially since I’d never left the country. Knowing that I had friends and family and school here waiting for me when I got back made it easier to go and have the time of my life. I lived every single moment of my time in Japan to the best of my ability whether I was happy or sad, homesick or wanting-to-stay-in-Japan-forever sick. Leaving UGA helped me to realize how much I had grown to love and appreciate the school. Now that I’m back, I’m ready to live my life here at UGA to the fullest, making the most of my classes, my jobs, my clubs, my friends, and all those football games. I think I’ll be sad when I graduate. It’s been a real trip.