Ayaka Terashi

I was born and raised in Japan, where I grew up surrounded by cats and Shiba Inus. Ever since I was little, I've had a soft spot for fluffy animals—they've always brought me joy.

I started playing tennis when I was six years old, and at ages 12 and 13, I was ranked No. 1 in Japan for my age group. Tennis shaped the way I approach challenges. It taught me how to set goals, create strategic plans, practice efficiently, prepare thoroughly, adapt my strategy based on my opponent, communicate effectively with coaches, and most importantly, turn ideas into action. Those lessons continue to influence how I approach design today.

I started playing tennis when I was six years old, and at ages 12 and 13, I was ranked No. 1 in Japan for my age group. Tennis shaped the way I approach challenges. It taught me how to set goals, create strategic plans, practice efficiently, prepare thoroughly, adapt my strategy based on my opponent, communicate effectively with coaches, and most importantly, turn ideas into action. Those lessons continue to influence how I approach design today.

I've loved English-language music, movies, and TV shows since I was young and dreamed of living in the U.S. When I learned about full athletic scholarships at American universities, I took action. Starting at 18, I taught myself English, took the SAT four times and TOEFL seven times, and earned a full scholarship to a Division I university. I majored in Media and Digital Design through the David Letterman program, graduated with a 4.0 GPA in both senior-year semesters, and received academic honors. This journey shaped my belief that persistence, continuous learning, and taking action can turn ambitious goals into reality.

I've loved English-language music, movies, and TV shows since I was young and dreamed of living in the U.S. When I learned about full athletic scholarships at American universities, I took action. Starting at 18, I taught myself English, took the SAT four times and TOEFL seven times, and earned a full scholarship to a Division 1 university. I majored in Media and Digital Design through the David Letterman program, graduated with a 4.0 GPA in both senior-year semesters, and received academic honors. This journey shaped my belief that persistence, continuous learning, and taking action can turn ambitious goals into reality.

I'm an ENFJ, and I genuinely enjoy helping people succeed. Creating customer-centered experiences comes naturally to me because I love understanding people's needs, solving meaningful problems, and designing products that make their lives easier.