How PTK Helped Koto Find Her Voice

When Koto Imahori moved from Japan to the US, she was overwhelmed with uncertainty. She had never spoken English and worried she wouldn’t be able to connect with her classmates. But she soon discovered she wasn’t alone. The experience opened her eyes to the importance of understanding others and embracing different perspectives.

That belief deepened when she enrolled in community college and joined PTK. For Koto, PTK wasn’t just a line on her résumé — it was a turning point.

As PTK Chapter President at her Iowa community college, she led service initiatives ranging from food banks and clothing drives to visiting nursing homes, babysitting for families in need, and volunteering at blood drives. She credits these experiences with helping her grow into a confident leader.

The confidence she found in service helped her confront another part of her story — one rooted in her early years as a track athlete in Japan. She loved running, but the competitive sports culture she grew up in was harsh and unforgiving. Over time, she began measuring her self-worth by performance alone.

Studying exercise science in the United States helped her reframe what athletics could be. She began to envision a world where young athletes could be pushed without being harmed — supported, not judged. During school breaks, she returned to Japan to serve as an assistant track coach, prioritizing not only physical conditioning but also mental well-being.

Her own struggles with body image further fueled her mission. As a young athlete striving to meet impossible standards, Koto developed an eating disorder that took a serious toll on her health. Through recovery, she realized how few resources existed for others like her. So she created one.

Koto founded an organization that provides credible information for families, one-on-one Zoom counseling, and in-person support groups — all free of charge.

“My purpose for this project is to set up safe places for young athletes,” she said. “I want them to have the support I didn’t.”

Koto is the first to say she didn’t get here alone. She credits Phi Theta Kappa for giving her not just community, but clarity.

“PTK has helped me become a better person, always asking how I can contribute to our society,” she said. “Now, I’m confident in myself not because of awards or acceptance letters, but because PTK helped me discover what I want to do in the future — and how to make an impact.”

That impact is already being recognized. As a PTK member, Koto was named a New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and a Hites Transfer Scholar, and she received a Phi Theta Kappa transfer scholarship to New York University, where she began classes this fall.

From a quiet transfer student who once feared speaking English to an advocate building a healthier future for young athletes. Koto embodies the spirit of leadership through service.