Yes, we need those pieces of paper to get by in this society, but don't always believe in what is being taught. Think for yourself and and never stop asking questions, so when you get those pieces of paper, you can still keep learning to improve yourself more. Always question things, and question authority.
I took the last few years to really focus on me, what I wanted to do and the process to achieve it. It took 3 years to really get things moving, and setting up a step-by-step planning to achieve it. Simply saying "I want to move back to Japan" is such a open-ended statement without any means to get started.
I was planning to finish school in my home province, "the cheapest in Canada" I was told, but after researching the courses offered, none of them was interesting enough, and the ones that was interesting was very far out of town. So that was out of the question.
So the next choice was going to school in Vancouver, and looking into a lot of options I decided on one from advice from a few people -- but again the same problem came up. I am in my early 30's and I did not want to spend another 4 years here in Canada only to get back in Japan when I am almost 40.... no thank you!!
So the final option was finding a school in Japan that can help me finish school in the same amount of time as if I was to finish in Canada. So after a few months of research, I found one in Osaka. A language school that gave an Associates Degree upon completion, successfully obtaining JLPT N2-1, along with other focus courses they have to help get you into a vocational college or university in year three, not year 1. The only requirement outside the very steep costs was having my high school, or equivalency.
So, here I am, 27 credits to go and working hard on getting that after over 20 years out of school. After that I am heading back out west to Vancouver because I have a job waiting for me with will pay $16/hr so I can begin saving for the high costs of the school I picked in Osaka. It is pretty expensive, but for what I was looking for, it suits me best.
I will never take a loan out or get a student loan, so saving for this will take a lot of sacrifice. Renting from a cheap hostel (under $300 a month for me as I worked the before), cooking for my meals, and not going out a lot -- only a couple times a month with friends, or to show some things to do in Vancouver on the channel.
So it will take almost 2 years to save, so I will be back in Vancouver around 2019 -- before the Olympics! It will take around 3 years BUT if I was to do school in Vancouver I'd have to save the same amount of time, then do 4 years on top of that! So this is the fastest and best option for me!
If you're wanting to do anything in life, take the time in planning it out, as well as making multiple options to go though. It helps seeing everything written out in front of you, step-by-step! So you can look at all the options front of you and weigh what is best. Nothing is impossible, only if you don't plan everything out in small do-able steps.
No one is special for being able to go anywhere and do things you want to do. They planned and worked hard for it. And so can you. Don't make excuses either, yes, I am not from a well off family, mine was a very low income home, and getting work here in my small province, is next to impossible.
So thats why I have to leave and to do that I found a travel agency that allows you to put money on your account so you can slowly save for the ticket, AND even better if you live on the mainland of Canada/America, you can get a Greyhound Bus which can be very cheap if you need to leave to find work.
Find out what you need to do, and rely only on yourself to get there. Take help if it is for getting work, or a means to get a reference or something -- always take advice from people who are doing things you want to do in life. Never take the negative statements from people, or even family who say you're only dreaming and you'll never achieve it.
You can, only if you believe you can. You never will if you let the thoughts of others, people who never achieved anything and take the safe route in life, because they didn't make it. Live a life that makes you happy, never stop trying to make your dreams a reality, don't let romance stop your dreams either, because I see so many people put their dreams on the back burner because of love. You're only going to create problems when you're older, resenting that person for getting in your way of the goals you wanted, but in reality you're just as much to blame.
Keep dreaming, keep working toward it. Never take your eyes off the prize. Then you live a life you'll be happy with, without regret!
What is it you want to do in life, what are your goals? Let me know in the comments!
Here is some amazing quotes to end this with!! Ford had a few I love!
ーWayne Gretzky
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”
“Whether you think you can, or you can't -- You're right.”
“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs”
“There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.”
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
ーHenry Ford
“Do, or do not. There is no try.
ーYoda
