家族留学奮闘記

2023 is about to finish. I am still in the United States without returning back to Japan given the fact that the flight ticket back to Japan can exceed over $2000, which is obviously not easy to afford for an economically struggling student like me.

I admit that the year 2023 was one of the most dramatic years that I have ever experienced in my whole life. I was admitted to a top graduate school that I longed for since 2020. I left Japan and embarked on my new academic journey in my mid-thirty. I spent some sleepless nights, being worried about the uncertain future of my journey brings. No matter how you think that you are strong and resilient, you can become fragile and vulnerable in a place, where you constantly are tested who you really are. Sometimes we must admit that we cannot survive alone and sometimes it is important to seek support around you. 

Another big concern was my family that I left in Japan. Apart from my family, I had to learn to live my own life without the support of my family, which I used to take it granted back in Japan. I realized that my family is a huge mental spot for me.  Nothing can provide me a comfort and relief than a video chat with my family on weekends. Their bright smiles and cheerful voices are my source of my power that propels me forward. I am grateful that we are still virtually and mentally connected, although we are not allowed to see each other in person. Hopefully we will be reunited soon.

The academics at graduate school was very demanding. They required me to read 100+ pages of scholarly journals and to submit brief reports on the readings on a weekly basis. I had a very difficult time catching up with the speed of coursework for a couple of weeks after the fall semester. I was just going back and forth between my apartment and the library almost everyday. In mid-November, I felt slightly more comfortable with the rigorous work at the institution. Surprisingly, I have made so many friends on campus, although most of them are almost ten years younger than me. Now I enjoy every moment of my classes. The professors constantly inspired me to push my boundaries. Coming this far, this journey made me think that it is never too old to learn something new. For someone who is pursuing a dream, age might be just a number that goes up each year. However silly it may sound, your journey will begin once you set a new goal. Your grit will take you there as long as your unflagging motivation continues. 

I would like to conclude my blog article by quoting Nelson Mandela. He said, “It always seems impossible, until it is done.” Most people unfortunately give up halfway through before even they start because they simply believe it is impossible. The truth is that no one knows the difficultly of the task until you buckle down to the business. We need to invest in our time and energy, believing in some potential return that we will earn from our investment. I will continue to work hard until I hit the wall. When I hit the huge brick wall, I will think how I can break or climb over the wall. 

Many thanks for your time reading my blog. May your 2024 be filled with great joy!