I came to Japan as an exchange student in March last year. When I first arrived, I struggled to get used to the work and customs in Japan. I missed my family terribly and always wanted to go back to my country. At that time, I didn’t feel like doing anything, couldn’t concentrate on my studies, and gradually began to feel stressed. Because of this, I even forgot why I came to Japan and my Japanese gradually worsened. Before I knew it, a year had passed, but I still can’t speak Japanese very well. Last year, I didn’t gain anything. Neither my communication skills, ideal lifestyle, nor Japanese ability improved as I had hoped. Meanwhile, all my friends were studying hard and working towards their future. I felt disappointed and regretted what I had done so far. I thought again about myself. If I don’t try my best while I’m young, I will surely regret it when I get older. Therefore, since becoming a sophomore, I have decided to put in more effort. The most important thing is to study Japanese. I study hard every day and try to speak with Japanese people as much as possible. I also learn a lot from my friends. In particular, my best friend always comforts and encourages me, which has motivated me more. If I could go back to last year, I would like to do it all over again. But I can’t return to the past. I have no choice but to move forward. Perhaps, it wasn’t last year’s fault, but thanks to last year, I have become who I am today. When I think about it, last year was a valuable and important year for me. I have learned deep lessons from my regrets.