A first entry and some exposition about me and JET

So, I am starting this blog partially because my friend was asking about how to start a blog and if blogger was easy (it is) and partially because I am currently applying for JET for my second time. I applied last year during my senior year of college. So let me give my long-winded intro me and my relationship with JET. I have loved Japan for a long time, starting with anime back in first or second grade when I watched Sailor Moon at 5 in the morning. But, I found that as I learned anime came from Japan and little bits and pieces of Japanese life, I came to love so many other things about Japan. I love the anime, music, other tv shows, movies, etiquette, language, and just about everything else. When I was 11, my Nana told me about a program my second cousin worked with: JET. I had wanted to be a teacher even longer than I loved Japan. I walked out of my first day of preschool and declared, "I am going to be a teacher, just like Mrs. Smith!" And that was that. As I got older, I went through a brief stint of wanting to be a manga-ka, but realized I wanted to doodle, not make a hobby into a career. In high school, I realized that I love literature and English Language Arts, so thus I want to be a high school English teacher.

Now, I had known about JET longer than anyone else I've heard of (other than people that might have parents who were involved). I shaped myself around this dream. My interesting fact for clubs, new classes, etc was that "I am going to go to Japan and teach English as a second language for a year, when I graduate." So, last summer, I realized that I would actually be graduating in May 2012. I will finally be eligible for JET! I applied. I got together the huge list of parts and applied. I was terrified, excited, and just incomprehensible. I was 100% invested. Then, I realized as I was getting everything together and after I had sent it that I had some issues with my application. First off, one of my references was garbage. I needed three copies in a signed and sealed envelope on official letterhead. There was one copy that was barely a reference and the envelope was not sealed. I made it worse by asking the HR manager to put that in an envelope and at least sign and seal that. This was a mistake that I am to blame for. Your references speak volumes about who you are as an applicant. If a sloppy reference is all you've got, then that is not good. Secondly, I hadn't actually graduated yet, so that had issues. Thirdly, I lacked experience to add to my application. Fourthly, my Statement of Purpose was too slanted by my excessive adoration for Japan. I accidentally sounded as though I was putting down the American education system. I was so busy talking about what I loved about Japan, where I could have been talking about things to actually qualify me for the job. If love of Japan were all it takes to get the job, I would have it. ^^;

In February, I found out I didn't get an interview. Honestly? I was crushed. Twelve years of my twenty-three years of life had been spent dreaming of this program. I knew there were flaws with my application. I had been bouncing between confidence and terror for months while I waited. I had a feeling I wasn't going to get it. But, I was still obliterated when I found out that they didn't want me. I felt like I was the problem, like I wasn't good enough. I clearly know this is wrong because I really fit the program's goal and the applicant-type they are looking for, so I knew I would be re-applying. I left the forums and stopped thinking about my application for months. During this time, my friend Staci-chin (as I like to call her) got an interview. This was the best thing that could have happened for me as an applicant. People could say I was great for the program. People could acknowledge what I already knew. People could tell me they knew somebody or knew somebody that knew somebody that was in JET at some point. But none of that mattered. I didn't know anyone that had gotten in. Other than a travel course in college, I knew nobody who had ever been to Japan. About a month ago, Staci-chin found out that she was placed as an alternate. For me, I felt like that was a "Yes, but we don't know where to put you yet." That was the moment I realized that I had a chance, that people really get into JET. Just last week, Staci-chin was upgraded and will be leaving in August for Japan. I could not have been happier because now I can go visit her in Japan and she thoroughly deserves it,

When I learned that Staci-chin was an alternate, I knew it was time to start thinking about my application. So, now that you have heard a brief synopsis of my past experiences, I am going to chronicle my path to JET. I will go through this year as I apply again and hopefully get an interview and shortlisted. If I get rejected I will go through that too. But the point is this: I am going to get into JET and here I will show that process no matter how many times I have to get back on that horse.