Starting from elementary all the way to the end of high school I had a very rough time. I had depression and an anxiety disorder that was debilitating and caused me to miss out on many things. For high school me, going to university in Japan was a day dream, not because it was another country but because I had no intention of going to university. I was afraid the same things that had caused me to miss so much school and make my life hell would follow me to university. But after working for a year and having some awful experiences with that, I decided that I needed an education if I wanted to do something with my life. And with the help of my best friend I applied to university at home.
My mother was not pleased. Turns out she thought I had signed up for a full load of courses, but once we cleared up that I was only doing part-time to start off with she was much happier. To be honest I only took those classes to show my parents I could do it and be allowed to apply to Meiji. When I was accepted to Meiji it wasn't a sure thing that I would be able to go. It was expensive, I was having to move to a new country! And if I went I would miss my exams at home. Despite all this it was decided I would go, and so began the adventure of pre-departure plans you have to take care of. My visa situation was a nightmare, I ended up having to switch my flights and leave a day early to get to Calgary the day before I took a plane to Japan because I had to go to the consulate. Luckily everything worked out and as a bonus I got to see some family.
When I arrived I actually knew what I was doing this time, no more getting lost, or covered in maple syrup and especially no lost purses. I started university, which was weird because university in Japan is very different than university in Canada. I made new friends and found subjects I was extremely interested in. This isn't to say that my anxiety and depression didn't bother me, for awhile I was dangerously close of falling back into the old routine that I thought I had left behind, but with the help of my friends, a school counsellor and my own knowledge I was able to persevere and get through it.
Now I will start my 3rd year in April and I'm planning for my future. I'm already looking into doing a masters degree, most likely in the U.K. and I still have my heart set on a studying abroad. Who knows what my future holds or where I will go. All I know is I wouldn't be where I am today, in my tiny room in Tokyo if it weren't for all the people in my life who helped me through the rough patches, even when I didn't believe it would get better.
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| Tokyo has many museums, like the samurai museum |
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