Things I learned were immediately helpful

Shiori Itakura
(graduate of Chuo University High School; 1st-year student in the Faculty of Letters)

More than 6 months have passed since I entered university. I now look back on the career seminar for high school students with a feeling of nostalgia.

I enrolled in the seminar based on the advice of my instructor Kouki Kamii, who taught the class in social research. My friends at other high schools were studying hard for university entrance examinations and I felt that I also should strive for something. I felt that taking the seminar would be a good use of my time after deciding upon my studies at university.

In my case, I associated the word career only with job searching. Before actually participating in the seminar, I had thought that it was an opportunity to consider future job searching activities while still a high school student. I had a shallow image of probably learning the basics of job searching from employees at major corporations.

However, upon taking the seminar, I realized that a career is more than simply searching for employment. Indeed, it stretches far into the future in terms of life design.

In the seminar, I was a member of the Fuji Film group. Our group placed great emphasis on discoveries made from discrepancies between ideals and reality.

Group members wrote their own reality and ideals on paper. Everyone in the group then read the papers and held discussion. We were surprised at the extent of detail in which we were planning our life. It was something that we would not have noticed through independent thought.

Although our group did not receive a prize for our final presentation, we were able to form lifelong bonds with facilitators (see a different page) and other students. I am sincerely grateful for having the opportunity to participate in the seminar.

My experiences in the career seminar were immediately useful after entering university in April. I was surprised when I opened the Career Design Notebook which had been distributed to new students and read the information inside. I had already discovered and implemented almost everything during the career seminar.

Compared to other new students, I was already one step further in contemplating my career. I realized this when I read the Career Design Notebook. Once again, I felt thankful for what I learned in the career design seminar. Even more, my experiences in the seminar enriched my entire university lifestyle.

Upon entering university, students are suddenly forced to consider job searching and related activities. Thanks to participating in the career seminar, I realize that job searching is a stage in life. I am careful not to devote my entire university life to searching for employment.

I have set short-term goals which I want to accomplish within 1 year, mid-term goals which I hope to accomplish within 2 or 3 years, and long-term goals which I want to accomplish by the time I graduate. In addition to my studies and acquiring certification, I have also set goals for my club activities and hobbies. I plan to move forward by realizing my short-term goals one at a time.

My immediate goals for studying are to pass the pre-first grade test for kanji—something which I failed to do while in high school. For club activities (light music), I want to perform on stage during the Hakumon Festival. In terms of my hobby (traveling), I want to save money for a trip to Okinawa. I will move forward steadily and calmly, spurted by stimuli and the presence of friends.

The members of the Fuji Film group made a promise to meet again after 10 years. My long-term goal is to be able to speak about my career with pride during our reunion in 10 years.

Learning about society at an early stage

Kodai Ishii
(graduate of Chuo University High School; 1st-year student in the Faculty of Law)

Entering university put me into a much different environment than before. Although high school studies were knowledge-based, studies at university focus on performing research based on knowledge. Also, I had much more freedom in my daily life.

University provides the opportunity to do what you choose. Conversely, if you do not do anything, time simply passes without meaning. Within this environment, my experiences at the career seminar for high school students provide guidance for my life at university. I feel this way as the career seminar allowed me to reflect upon myself.

At the career seminar, a variety of themes were handled by each group. I was a member of the Fuji Film group. Before considering society, our group focused on learning about one’s self. Specifically, we contemplated what our life would be like in 10 years.

At first, I questioned whether it was truly necessary to contemplate myself. However, upon discussing my ideas with other group members, I was able to view myself objectively. Compared to those around me, I realized where my awareness is focused.

Becoming close to society

The facilitator for our team was Mr. Kiuchi, while Mr. Fukino provided guidance. Both of them shared the planners and notebooks which they use during daily work. They frankly discussed topics such as their attitude when working and the method for holding meetings.

Upon looking at the planner used by a working professional, I felt closer to society. My awareness of society changed. In addition to daily schedules, the planners contained detailed writings regarding weekly, monthly and yearly goals.

“Life is much shorter than you think,” said Mr. Kiuchi and Mr. Fukino. “That’s why we write every single thing which we must do.”

This statement left a lasting impression on me.

Also, when preparing for presentations in the seminar, we learned techniques for conveying information to the listener. These were specific techniques only known by people with experience in giving presentations. Today, I use these techniques when presenting at seminars in university.

Studying in a seminar together with corporate employees changed my social values. It also changed my self-awareness. Until my 3rd year in high school, I had never taken a close look at myself. I have come to think in detail about a future which I had once only vaguely considered.

I do not have any clear answers on what I want to become or what I want to do. However, if I had not taken the career seminar, I might have spent my time at university without thinking at all. In that respect, at the time of a great change in my lifestyle from high school to university, it was very meaningful to have the opportunity to interact with society.

I am grateful to other group members, to teachers that encouraged me to enroll in the seminar, and to corporate employees who taught us on their days off, despite being busy with everyday work.