Last year, at the end of my first term of studies at The Yamasa Institute, our homeroom teacher made us write a letter to our future self. Kinda like Angela Aki’s song 「手紙 ～拝啓 １５の君へ～」, except that we were writing to the future self 6 months later. The purpose of the letter, was to remind ourselves of our aim and see if we have achieved it in 6 months’ time. If not, whether we have forgotten it or are we still pushing for it to happen.
I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, so that could possibly be one factor why, as narcissistic as it may sound, I was touched by what I wrote back then. I hope that people in the same shoes as I am, or anywhere similar, can read this and remind yourself not to give up on your dreams too. Here goes my letter:
半年後の自分へ
この手紙を読んでいる時、中にある文法や表現の間違いなどを笑えば、日本語能力もう一歩上がった証拠だよね。
１５歳から、日本語にの興味が生まれてから、この素晴らしい国の言葉にどれだけの努力をしていて、この手紙を読んでいる今は諦めたら、すごく残念なことだと思う。
１７歳から、ちゃんと日本語の授業を５年間取って、あいにく２２歳にガスケツになってしまったけど、２０１０年６月の今、また日本語の勉強をしていて、このやる気を持ち続けてほしい。
多くの言葉のクラスも取ったけど、また日本語に戻る理由と感想、忘れないで。初心を忘れないで。沢山のお金や時間をムダにしないよりも、自分がどれほど日本語が好きだったか、真剣に考えて、上達になるまで、途切れなくて、ガンバレ！
２０１０年６月２５日の私より
I only received my letter some days ago, not by post since I didn’t return to Singapore, which was the address I wrote on the envelope. And I only read it today – same day when I asked a student what her name was, and she said “Yumeka”. I asked her for the Kanji and she said, 夢が叶う、夢叶。
What a beautiful name.
