Monbukagakusho...
A year ago I applied for a scholarship called Monbukagakusho. Its an amazing opportunity to study in Japan for three years, basically completely for free. Actually, there is a monthly stipend, so its more like getting paid to learn. Its a government funded scholarship.
There are four stages to getting this scholarship:
1. Apply
2. A three part test (Japanese, English, Math)
3. An interview
4. Actually being accepted by a college
When I applied last year I had no idea how hard the Math section was going to be. Naturally I passed the Japanese and English with flying colors, but totally failed the math section. Of course I was heart broken, but I've learned how to perservere and do my best from my idols, so I am applying again this year.
I gave my current MATH103 teacher a copy of the mock test that was made available and he went over it and told me everything I need to study.... which is basically Pre-calculus, Calculus and Trigonometry. Unfortunately MATH103 is only college level Algebra.... basically I have A LOT of self study to do.
To make things worse, some people came to my Japanese class to talk about different scholarships, and when they talked about this one they mentioned that it is a world wide opportunity and that I will be competing with kids from other countries, and that two years ago a kid from here (Hawaii) was awarded the scholarship and is in Japan studying right now (this worries me because what are the odds they'll select a student from the same place twice, especially if that student is still in the program now...?) It discourages me a bit to know that there are so many other people just like me, who have the same dream, trying to get the same scholarship. They are probably smarter than me......
But I have been trying for so long to get to Japan! I have thought of Japan literally every single day for the past three years! I really want this. SO I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST!!
I felt like making this post because I just listened to the HQ radio rip of Jin's Eternal...... I cried. He is really a genius. So beautiful in a raw and passionate way. If Jin and KAT-TUN, and NEWS and Arashi and all of JE can do their best.... then so can I! Its time for me to really get serious about my dreams too! And if I should fail..... then the third times a charm, right? Well I hope there won't be a third time.... but I'm definitely not giving up! Japan is MY dream!
There are four stages to getting this scholarship:
1. Apply
2. A three part test (Japanese, English, Math)
3. An interview
4. Actually being accepted by a college
When I applied last year I had no idea how hard the Math section was going to be. Naturally I passed the Japanese and English with flying colors, but totally failed the math section. Of course I was heart broken, but I've learned how to perservere and do my best from my idols, so I am applying again this year.
I gave my current MATH103 teacher a copy of the mock test that was made available and he went over it and told me everything I need to study.... which is basically Pre-calculus, Calculus and Trigonometry. Unfortunately MATH103 is only college level Algebra.... basically I have A LOT of self study to do.
To make things worse, some people came to my Japanese class to talk about different scholarships, and when they talked about this one they mentioned that it is a world wide opportunity and that I will be competing with kids from other countries, and that two years ago a kid from here (Hawaii) was awarded the scholarship and is in Japan studying right now (this worries me because what are the odds they'll select a student from the same place twice, especially if that student is still in the program now...?) It discourages me a bit to know that there are so many other people just like me, who have the same dream, trying to get the same scholarship. They are probably smarter than me......
But I have been trying for so long to get to Japan! I have thought of Japan literally every single day for the past three years! I really want this. SO I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST!!
I felt like making this post because I just listened to the HQ radio rip of Jin's Eternal...... I cried. He is really a genius. So beautiful in a raw and passionate way. If Jin and KAT-TUN, and NEWS and Arashi and all of JE can do their best.... then so can I! Its time for me to really get serious about my dreams too! And if I should fail..... then the third times a charm, right? Well I hope there won't be a third time.... but I'm definitely not giving up! Japan is MY dream!