It has been a year and a half since I came to Japan. Time flies by quickly. November has arrived, and we are about to welcome another harsh winter. Recently, I’ve been preparing for entrance into a vocational school, which made me think about my future and my parents back in my home country.

Since I was a child, I have loved Japanese manga and Korean food. So, I always thought about going to Japan or Korea. After careful consideration, I decided to come to Japan. That’s when I started living on my own. It was quite challenging for me because I had to do everything on my own.

Since coming to Japan, time has felt like it passed in the blink of an eye, yet at times, it also felt very long. However, as I reflect on the time that has passed, I have come to understand many things. I feel that I have grown a lot in this past year and a half.

I’ve learned important things from small details that I didn’t notice before, like being punctual and improving my communication with people. Even now, there are times when I don’t feel like doing anything, when work gets too busy, and I start longing to go back to my home country. However, when I remember the reason I came to Japan and think about what I love, what I want to do, and what I want to become in the future, I find the motivation to keep pushing forward.

Even when faced with difficulties, as long as you have the determination to see it through to the end, you will surely find a good solution. “Step by step,” there is only one way to achieve anything. There is no other way. So, I intend to persist and see things through to the end. It’s tough because I’m putting in the effort, and I’m hesitating because I’m trying to move forward.