In my time examining all the things that could have gotten my app last year disqualified, I found something really obvious and stupid on my part. My name. I got married last October and that meant that I did not have the correct documents to submit with my name. For my proof of citizenship (or whatever that is), I used my birth certificate, clearly, this has my birth name on it, not my married name. This year, I am hoping to use my passport, which I want to renew and, thus, would have my married name.
If you are in the same situation, you can submit your birth certificate as your proof of citizenship, but you need to provide documentation showing your name change. Things that can prove this in most situations are the paperwork from changing your name at Social Security (I needed this for my license) or just your marriage certificate. You probably want to spend the extra dough to get a real official copy of your marriage certificate from town hall, just in case photocopies are not official enough.
Please, don't be stupid and mess these things up. You don't want to be me and realizing eight-ish months after the application that something as dumb as your name not being verified correctly got you disqualified from such a great program. So, correct documentation of your name, do it, it's not hard.
Showing posts with label 2012 Application. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012 Application. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Self-Assessment Medical Form
I don't think that a lot of people think too much about the Self-Assessment Medical Form very early on. It seems simple and not one or the top concerns. It certainly isn't the big ordeal that references or your SoP are, but it is just as important to have done and done correctly. So, I figure I'll put this up here so that people can take a look and know whether or not they will need to get a doctor's appointment or the Physician's Form or whatever else. Here is what the Self-Assessment Medical Form asked last year.
Name
Interview Location
Date of Birth
To the Applicant: (long thing I won't put here)
Important Note: If you have ever had any physical or mental condition/illness (including, but not limited to, those listed in Question 3,4, or 5) you must use the attached Physician's Form. In this form, your physician must state whether or not you are fit to participate in the JET Program, and as such, to live and work overseas.
1. When and for what reason did you last consult a physician? (Colds, fevers, and visits to OB/GYN facilities or consultations for the requesting of contraception may be omitted.)
2a. What diseases, ailments, or injuries have you had in the past five years? If any of these resulted in hospitalization, please give details as to when, why, and the duration of the treatment.
2b. What is your current status with regards to the condition(s) detailed above?
3. Are you currently seeing a physician and/or undergoing treatment of any kind? If yes, please detail below AND have your doctor fill out the Physician's Form.
4. Have you ever been diagnosed and/or treated for any nervous or mental condition (including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, and/or eating disorders)? If yes, you must detail below AND have your doctor fill our the Physician's Form. Please note that we may contact your doctor if further information is necessary.
5. Have you ever been diagnosed and/or treated for any other illness or condition previously undisclosed on this Medical Form (including physical conditions, but excluding minor colds, feversm sprains)? If yes, you must detail below AND have your doctor fill out the Physician's Form.
6. Do you foresee any physical challenges resulting from the need to go up and down several flights of stairs on a daily basis? If yes, please explain.
7. What allergies do you have, if any? Are you currently being treated? If so, how?
8. If you are currently taking, or have taken in the last five years, any prescription medication other than oral contraceptives, please give details (including medication's name, purpose, and dates taken). Make sure to describe the condition(s) for which you have taken any medications listed here in questions 4 and/or 6, above.
9. Are there any foods, which, for medical or personal reasons, you do not eat? If yes, please give details.
10. Please explain any other health-related issues or disabilities that you have below (i.e. if you are legally blind/deaf, use a wheelchair, etc.).
Signature and Date
Hopefully this can help you make sure you have a doctor's appointment if needed and prepare you to get your Physician's Form if you need one. I got one last year because I am severely allergic to peanuts, cherries, and apples (as in anaphylaxis) , so I have to carry an Epi-Pen. The general rule with medical stuff is to disclose it, if you have to ask because it is better to be safe than sorry. You don't want to seem like you were hiding something or be disqualified because you didn't disclose something that you should have. This information can also be really important for you because it can help make sure you get placed near the help you will need.
Name
Interview Location
Date of Birth
To the Applicant: (long thing I won't put here)
Important Note: If you have ever had any physical or mental condition/illness (including, but not limited to, those listed in Question 3,4, or 5) you must use the attached Physician's Form. In this form, your physician must state whether or not you are fit to participate in the JET Program, and as such, to live and work overseas.
1. When and for what reason did you last consult a physician? (Colds, fevers, and visits to OB/GYN facilities or consultations for the requesting of contraception may be omitted.)
2a. What diseases, ailments, or injuries have you had in the past five years? If any of these resulted in hospitalization, please give details as to when, why, and the duration of the treatment.
2b. What is your current status with regards to the condition(s) detailed above?
3. Are you currently seeing a physician and/or undergoing treatment of any kind? If yes, please detail below AND have your doctor fill out the Physician's Form.
4. Have you ever been diagnosed and/or treated for any nervous or mental condition (including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, and/or eating disorders)? If yes, you must detail below AND have your doctor fill our the Physician's Form. Please note that we may contact your doctor if further information is necessary.
5. Have you ever been diagnosed and/or treated for any other illness or condition previously undisclosed on this Medical Form (including physical conditions, but excluding minor colds, feversm sprains)? If yes, you must detail below AND have your doctor fill out the Physician's Form.
6. Do you foresee any physical challenges resulting from the need to go up and down several flights of stairs on a daily basis? If yes, please explain.
7. What allergies do you have, if any? Are you currently being treated? If so, how?
8. If you are currently taking, or have taken in the last five years, any prescription medication other than oral contraceptives, please give details (including medication's name, purpose, and dates taken). Make sure to describe the condition(s) for which you have taken any medications listed here in questions 4 and/or 6, above.
9. Are there any foods, which, for medical or personal reasons, you do not eat? If yes, please give details.
10. Please explain any other health-related issues or disabilities that you have below (i.e. if you are legally blind/deaf, use a wheelchair, etc.).
Signature and Date
Hopefully this can help you make sure you have a doctor's appointment if needed and prepare you to get your Physician's Form if you need one. I got one last year because I am severely allergic to peanuts, cherries, and apples (as in anaphylaxis) , so I have to carry an Epi-Pen. The general rule with medical stuff is to disclose it, if you have to ask because it is better to be safe than sorry. You don't want to seem like you were hiding something or be disqualified because you didn't disclose something that you should have. This information can also be really important for you because it can help make sure you get placed near the help you will need.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
The Big List aka The Main Application
On the forums, someone asked, a while back, to see a copy of last year's application. Personally, I'm not comfortable showing my app because it has my info on it, but I certainly don't mind sharing what was in the application. So, here is the long list of all the sections within the main US application (numbered exactly as in the application):
1. Interview Location (what consulate you will be interviewing at)
2a. Position Type (ALT or CIR)
2b. ALT Placement (CIR only, meaning if you don't get CIR, would you be willing to be an ALT?)
3. Name
4. Gender
5. Nationality
6. Date of Birth
7a. Hometown (the place you feel comfortable representing)
7b. Home State
8. Dual Nationality (are you or are you not)
9a. Have you ever applied to the JET Program before?
9b. Have you ever interviewed for the JET Program before?
9c. Have you ever been offered a position on the JET Program?
10. Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime?
11a. Will you be accompanied?
11b. How many will be accompanying you?
11c. Are your children going to accompany you?
12a. Marital Status
12b. Is your partner a JET applicant?
12c. Partner's Interview Location Code
12d. Partner's Name
13a. Education Level
13b. Academic Specialization (Major and Minor)
14a. Teaching Certification and Date of Completion
14b. TEFL/TESL Certification Date of Completion
15. Driver's License (will you be willing to drive in Japan)
16a. Placement Request
16b. Living Area Classification (Urban, Suburban, or Rural)
16c. First, Second, Third Placement Requests (none of these are remotely guaranteed)
17a. Elementary School (are you willing to teach ES?)
17b. International Economic Exchange (I don't remember what this was in reference to)
17c. Support for Foreign Population (I don't remember this either, they may both be CIR related?)
18a. Previously interviewed, if so, where?
18b. Previously offered a position, if rejected, why?
19. If answered yes to 10, what crime or why arrested?
20. If accompanied by family dependents, write relationship and ages if under 18.
21. Do you wish to be placed near someone? Who? And why?
22. Do you have a strong reason for your placement request?
23. Permanent Mailing Address
24. Current Mailing Address
25. Higher Educational Institutions Attended or Currently Attending, 4 columns
-Name of Institution
-Dates Attended (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Specialization (including both major and minor)
-Degree/Diploma and Date earned or expected
26. Teaching Background, 3 sections, 5 columns
-Classroom Teaching (includes observation hours, time you have taught a class or lesson, worked with students in a classroom)
-Other Teaching or Tutoring (worked in a tutoring center, private, ran a study group, trained new employees, etc)
-Institution Name (where you had this experience)
-Subject (what you were teaching/tutoring)
-Grade Level (what age/grade you were teaching)
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Hours/Week (if irregular, average it out; if not done often, show that it was 1 or 2 hrs/wk to show it wasn't a lot, but you did it)
-Teacher Training and/or Education Courses (classes in education at school or training programs through a job, maybe an after school program, etc)
-Institution Name (where you took the course)
-Course Name
-Grade Received
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Hours/Week
27. International/Intercultural Experience (travel, cultural courses, attend the local Buddhist temple, etc)
-Country and City
-Purpose
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
28. Employment History (this is also a chart, but it is all the common stuff; if you don't know what is in this section, then you probably have never held a job and should not need to fill this out :P)
29. Explain in a few sentences the proposed direction of your current or future profession and its relationship to the JET Program (basically tell them how this relates to your current and future jobs)
30. Japan-Related Studies, 3 sections, 3 columns
-Formal Study of Japanese History, Culture, etc.
-Formal Study of Japanese Language
-Informal Study of Japanese History, Culture, Language, etc.
-Institution and Course Names
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Grade Received
-Applicants need to rate their Japanese language proficiency honestly in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening as Advanced, Semi-Advanced, Intermediate, Elementary, Introductory, None
31. Do you have any certification of Japanese Language Proficiency? If yes, list. (this is things like the JLPT)
32. Evaluate any ability you may have in other languages (other than English) using the same scale as with your Japanese ability in 30.
33. List any Honors, Awards, or Scholarships and Dates Received
34a. Extra-Curricular and Volunteer Activities and Dates of Involvement
34b. Leadership Positions
-Organization/Group/Team Name
-Office Held
-Dates of Involvement
35. Are you presently and applicant or do you intend to apply for any other international exchange programs, jobs, or scholarships? If yes, explain.
36a. Where did you first hear about the JET Program?
36b. What helped you decide to apply to the JET Program?
36c. When did you first become interested in Japan?
36d. What was the reason that you first became interested in Japan?
37. Emergency Contacts (list two, make sure one will not be going with you to Japan)
38. Please fill out the Self Assessment Medical Form (and Physician's Form, when necessary) and enclose with your application packet.
Signature and Date
That is the entire application for JET 2012. My next post will be the Self-Assessment Medical Form, just so people can make sure to know if they'll need to get a Physician's Form.
1. Interview Location (what consulate you will be interviewing at)
2a. Position Type (ALT or CIR)
2b. ALT Placement (CIR only, meaning if you don't get CIR, would you be willing to be an ALT?)
3. Name
4. Gender
5. Nationality
6. Date of Birth
7a. Hometown (the place you feel comfortable representing)
7b. Home State
8. Dual Nationality (are you or are you not)
9a. Have you ever applied to the JET Program before?
9b. Have you ever interviewed for the JET Program before?
9c. Have you ever been offered a position on the JET Program?
10. Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime?
11a. Will you be accompanied?
11b. How many will be accompanying you?
11c. Are your children going to accompany you?
12a. Marital Status
12b. Is your partner a JET applicant?
12c. Partner's Interview Location Code
12d. Partner's Name
13a. Education Level
13b. Academic Specialization (Major and Minor)
14a. Teaching Certification and Date of Completion
14b. TEFL/TESL Certification Date of Completion
15. Driver's License (will you be willing to drive in Japan)
16a. Placement Request
16b. Living Area Classification (Urban, Suburban, or Rural)
16c. First, Second, Third Placement Requests (none of these are remotely guaranteed)
17a. Elementary School (are you willing to teach ES?)
17b. International Economic Exchange (I don't remember what this was in reference to)
17c. Support for Foreign Population (I don't remember this either, they may both be CIR related?)
18a. Previously interviewed, if so, where?
18b. Previously offered a position, if rejected, why?
19. If answered yes to 10, what crime or why arrested?
20. If accompanied by family dependents, write relationship and ages if under 18.
21. Do you wish to be placed near someone? Who? And why?
22. Do you have a strong reason for your placement request?
23. Permanent Mailing Address
24. Current Mailing Address
25. Higher Educational Institutions Attended or Currently Attending, 4 columns
-Name of Institution
-Dates Attended (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Specialization (including both major and minor)
-Degree/Diploma and Date earned or expected
26. Teaching Background, 3 sections, 5 columns
-Classroom Teaching (includes observation hours, time you have taught a class or lesson, worked with students in a classroom)
-Other Teaching or Tutoring (worked in a tutoring center, private, ran a study group, trained new employees, etc)
-Institution Name (where you had this experience)
-Subject (what you were teaching/tutoring)
-Grade Level (what age/grade you were teaching)
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Hours/Week (if irregular, average it out; if not done often, show that it was 1 or 2 hrs/wk to show it wasn't a lot, but you did it)
-Teacher Training and/or Education Courses (classes in education at school or training programs through a job, maybe an after school program, etc)
-Institution Name (where you took the course)
-Course Name
-Grade Received
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Hours/Week
27. International/Intercultural Experience (travel, cultural courses, attend the local Buddhist temple, etc)
-Country and City
-Purpose
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
28. Employment History (this is also a chart, but it is all the common stuff; if you don't know what is in this section, then you probably have never held a job and should not need to fill this out :P)
29. Explain in a few sentences the proposed direction of your current or future profession and its relationship to the JET Program (basically tell them how this relates to your current and future jobs)
30. Japan-Related Studies, 3 sections, 3 columns
-Formal Study of Japanese History, Culture, etc.
-Formal Study of Japanese Language
-Informal Study of Japanese History, Culture, Language, etc.
-Institution and Course Names
-Dates: (MM/YY)-(MM/YY)
-Grade Received
-Applicants need to rate their Japanese language proficiency honestly in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening as Advanced, Semi-Advanced, Intermediate, Elementary, Introductory, None
31. Do you have any certification of Japanese Language Proficiency? If yes, list. (this is things like the JLPT)
32. Evaluate any ability you may have in other languages (other than English) using the same scale as with your Japanese ability in 30.
33. List any Honors, Awards, or Scholarships and Dates Received
34a. Extra-Curricular and Volunteer Activities and Dates of Involvement
34b. Leadership Positions
-Organization/Group/Team Name
-Office Held
-Dates of Involvement
35. Are you presently and applicant or do you intend to apply for any other international exchange programs, jobs, or scholarships? If yes, explain.
36a. Where did you first hear about the JET Program?
36b. What helped you decide to apply to the JET Program?
36c. When did you first become interested in Japan?
36d. What was the reason that you first became interested in Japan?
37. Emergency Contacts (list two, make sure one will not be going with you to Japan)
38. Please fill out the Self Assessment Medical Form (and Physician's Form, when necessary) and enclose with your application packet.
Signature and Date
That is the entire application for JET 2012. My next post will be the Self-Assessment Medical Form, just so people can make sure to know if they'll need to get a Physician's Form.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Woo!! Helping People!!!
So, I just wanted to put a big thank you out there because today, I got my first paper that someone wanted me to help with! I hope that I was helpful to her and I hope that other people will use me to improve their writing too! ^_^
Here are some helpful things, if you want to ask me for help. These will help me edit better for your needs and limit my feedback, so that you get more of what you want.
1) What country you are from, also, if you give me the prompt for your country, that may help as well.
2) What kind of editing you want. Do you want just grammar? General feedback? Both? I can do a full edit, which would include grammar, a comments section, and some general tips.
3) Rewrite help? If you want help writing a section because you know something sounds funny, you could send me the sentence with the paragraph and I could give suggestions for the specific section to make your writing better. However, I will not do this for a full paper because it is a LOT of work and then there would be too much me in the paper, when JET wants you.
4) Which sections. If you want me to read your whole paper, but focus on specific paragraphs, numbers the paragraphs and tell me what you want extra help with.
5) Just so you know, when I read and edit papers for people I consider to be peers, I treat it like a writing workshop. I read your paper once and make comments (the comments section). I read your paper a second time for grammar and a couple comments on weird/difficult to read sentences. I skim your paper a third and final time to check for final edits. I then add a couple comments on things that I think in general about your paper. I can be very harsh, my family thinks that I am the high school teacher everyone hates, but is much better off for having. I definitely don't hold blows for peers, unless you ask me to; I want your writing to be the best it can be and coddling you doesn't help anyone.
And here are some general writing/editing tips from me, in case you don't want my help, but you do need some help on your own.
1) Read aloud. Checking for commas this way is easiest. In fact, when I write, I speak under my breath, so that I know where I pause and need commas. Also, this makes it much easier to catch weird/difficult sentences.
2) Show, don't tell. Don't tell me a list of things you did. Show me a story, paint the scene, so that I see you, not listen to you talk about you.
3) Cut excess words. Rewrite sentences and see if you can remove words by changing verb tense or sentence order or whatever else, just cut the excess, so that you have room for the important stuff.
4) Use details! Details make it about you and not a motivational speech. No one wants your generic paper about the necessities of teaching and uniqueness of Japan; JET already knows all this crap and now they want to know about you, your experiences, and what you have to bring to the table.
That's it for yet another post about edits and SoPs and my writing opinions. Please, more people send me papers ^_^
And again:
THANK YOU FOR USING ME!!!! I enjoy helping out and having something useful to do with my time! This is a perfect opportunity for people who want feedback on last year's SoP because I am currently unemployed and have tons of time to read and edit your papers.
Here are some helpful things, if you want to ask me for help. These will help me edit better for your needs and limit my feedback, so that you get more of what you want.
1) What country you are from, also, if you give me the prompt for your country, that may help as well.
2) What kind of editing you want. Do you want just grammar? General feedback? Both? I can do a full edit, which would include grammar, a comments section, and some general tips.
3) Rewrite help? If you want help writing a section because you know something sounds funny, you could send me the sentence with the paragraph and I could give suggestions for the specific section to make your writing better. However, I will not do this for a full paper because it is a LOT of work and then there would be too much me in the paper, when JET wants you.
4) Which sections. If you want me to read your whole paper, but focus on specific paragraphs, numbers the paragraphs and tell me what you want extra help with.
5) Just so you know, when I read and edit papers for people I consider to be peers, I treat it like a writing workshop. I read your paper once and make comments (the comments section). I read your paper a second time for grammar and a couple comments on weird/difficult to read sentences. I skim your paper a third and final time to check for final edits. I then add a couple comments on things that I think in general about your paper. I can be very harsh, my family thinks that I am the high school teacher everyone hates, but is much better off for having. I definitely don't hold blows for peers, unless you ask me to; I want your writing to be the best it can be and coddling you doesn't help anyone.
And here are some general writing/editing tips from me, in case you don't want my help, but you do need some help on your own.
1) Read aloud. Checking for commas this way is easiest. In fact, when I write, I speak under my breath, so that I know where I pause and need commas. Also, this makes it much easier to catch weird/difficult sentences.
2) Show, don't tell. Don't tell me a list of things you did. Show me a story, paint the scene, so that I see you, not listen to you talk about you.
3) Cut excess words. Rewrite sentences and see if you can remove words by changing verb tense or sentence order or whatever else, just cut the excess, so that you have room for the important stuff.
4) Use details! Details make it about you and not a motivational speech. No one wants your generic paper about the necessities of teaching and uniqueness of Japan; JET already knows all this crap and now they want to know about you, your experiences, and what you have to bring to the table.
That's it for yet another post about edits and SoPs and my writing opinions. Please, more people send me papers ^_^
And again:
THANK YOU FOR USING ME!!!! I enjoy helping out and having something useful to do with my time! This is a perfect opportunity for people who want feedback on last year's SoP because I am currently unemployed and have tons of time to read and edit your papers.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Exploring the 2012 Questions Thread
So, I really want to provide useful info for myself and anyone else applying, now or in the future. In doing this, and my own general interests, I hang out on the Aspiring JETs Forum a lot. Seriously, a lot. I'm probably online there more than anyone else, thankfully I don't post more than anyone else or people would want to shoot me. I've been going through threads that sound interesting and one caught my eye. I did not see this last year when I was applying, but for people (like me) that want to find any and all advice available, I wanted to link to this thread here because I think it is wicked useful.
2012 Questions Thread
That being said, there is a lot of info in here and it can be hard to find exactly what you want. You can still ask in a new thread or come to the US JETs 2013 thread I started. But, I enjoy reading all the stuff. I am compiling info from various threads that I can post later with advice on things that seemed particularly helpful as I read them ^_^
2012 Questions Thread
That being said, there is a lot of info in here and it can be hard to find exactly what you want. You can still ask in a new thread or come to the US JETs 2013 thread I started. But, I enjoy reading all the stuff. I am compiling info from various threads that I can post later with advice on things that seemed particularly helpful as I read them ^_^
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Things to Do in the Interim
Some smart suggestions from the Miami_Coordinator on the JET Forums (in that questions thread that I mentioned) included things that you can and maybe should be doing, if you are getting a head start. These are things that make you a better applicant, but are not 100% necessary. But, they are all good things to do ^_^
-study Japanese (it's cool, you know you want to)
-volunteer
-attend some cultural classes/events (specifically for Japan would be good)
-study for a TEFL/TESL certificate (especially good if teaching ELLs is something you are interested in)
-work with international students
-assist with kids clubs or classrooms
All good things ^_^ Just some advice for passing the time. I'm currently studying Japanese, interning at a high school, looking into a TESOL program (with a practicum which is awesome!), and built a Writing Center. If I can do it, anyone can do it ^^; I promise it's not SOOO hard... Eheheheh... Heh... It may be harder once I have a place to live and a job, but for now, it's working okay >.>
-study Japanese (it's cool, you know you want to)
-volunteer
-attend some cultural classes/events (specifically for Japan would be good)
-study for a TEFL/TESL certificate (especially good if teaching ELLs is something you are interested in)
-work with international students
-assist with kids clubs or classrooms
All good things ^_^ Just some advice for passing the time. I'm currently studying Japanese, interning at a high school, looking into a TESOL program (with a practicum which is awesome!), and built a Writing Center. If I can do it, anyone can do it ^^; I promise it's not SOOO hard... Eheheheh... Heh... It may be harder once I have a place to live and a job, but for now, it's working okay >.>
Friday, May 18, 2012
Looking Over Last Year's Application
So, I printed my application to look at what I can improve. I read my answers to short explanation questions. I was horrified at my bad manners. I didn't mean to, but I sounded like a smart-ass. There was too much me in my answers. I have a severe food allergy, so I had to talk about what it was and since when and blah-blah-blah; my answers sounded flip and unprofessional. This was incredibly stupid of me. I should have been straightforward and simple. This is an easy fix that I can blow through to be better next time... You may not sound rude in person saying in the words you use, but on paper there is no way for the reader to hear you actually saying it. So, yeah, don't be flip or rude by accident.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
An Anxiety Essay from JET 2012
So, I've talked about how after my rejection last February, I stopped thinking about JET other than to support my friend Staci-chin (check out her blog as she goes to Japan in Staci-chan in Japan). But, that's not the whole story. In this final semester of college, I needed to take Advanced Writing to complete my degree. Stupidly, I volunteered to write an essay for our first workshop day, so I only had two nights to write this essay. It was January and all I could think about was JET, so I wrote an essay about applying for JET. Because of this essay, I never really got to step away from JET or the stress of the application process for the rest of the semester. As I edited and rewrote this paper for my final portfolio over the course of the semester, I learned a lot about myself as a writer, as an applicant, as a lover of Japan, as a person. I think it is one of the best things I've ever written and I would love to share it with you all. If anyone hasn't applied before or if anyone has, they can experience a bit of what applying for JET 2012 meant for me. So here it is. Enjoy.
Anxiety, Excitement, and Dreams
I’m standing at a crossroad. Here, my plans and my dream meet. I graduated from high school, moved out of my parents’ house, went to college, and even got married. But this is the heaviest moment yet. I stand here waiting to see if my dreams will come to pass now or be put off for even longer. Everyone has dreams, most assumed to be unattainable. Mine was never in doubt. “When I graduate, I’m going to do the JET Programme and teach English in Japan for at least a year.” I said it, but I never once stopped to think about how I would actually do it. Now, I’m trapped in that moment at that crossroad.
On my first day of preschool, I told my mother, “I want to be a teacher just like Mrs. Smith.” This sentiment never waned. As I got older, my feelings grew: I wanted to be a teacher like Mr. Forget, Mr. Sauchuk, Mrs. Francescone, and so many others. Teaching was and is my chosen career, not some unreachable dream. I know that I will be a teacher. I was in fifth grade, when my Nana told me about the JET Programme: the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. JET is the largest exchange teaching program in the world, with a huge success rate. If, hopefully when, I get in, I will be an assistant language teacher. I will teach Japanese students English as a foreign language. It sounded perfect to me, like the coolest thing ever: Japan, some mysterious place so far away that no one I knew had ever gone there. Not only could I go there, but teach there too. At least, in theory, I could teach there someday.
My love of Japan has been a long-growing affair, starting when I was a small child, second grade being my first memories. I loved Sailor Moon, Pokémon, Digimon, and a ridiculous amount of other anime related television. In middle school, my mother joked that it was Cartoon Network’s fault when my grades dropped after Toonami was moved to Saturday nights; how was I supposed to do my homework when my weeknight anime was cancelled? All joking aside, I went from loving the cartoons, to loving the manga, to loving the culture I found. Japan was the beautiful place full of amazing things that I shaped myself and my dreams around. In my freshman year of college, I went to Japan for spring break and even got college credit for it. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt as if I had come home. It was clean, polite, and impossibly cool, everything I had imagined. Walking around Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Takayama, and Tokyo, I could not have wanted more out of life. I was changed. Japan was no longer just part of anime and manga or the JET Programme. I now knew that Japan was a place I could belong, despite being a foreigner. Even remembering it, I am in awe, in love with a place so different from my own homeland.
For twelve years, I introduced myself as “Christine, I am going to teach English in Japan when I graduate.” At least, that was the introduction I used when teachers and professors asked for an interesting fact about myself. I defined myself by this dream; it was the thing that made me unique. Choosing to major in English? Easy. Selecting my Education minor? Simple. Working towards being an English teacher? No problem. But in all these twelve years, I never thought about making my defining feature a reality. How to get into JET had never crossed my mind. Now, I know how hard it is hard reaching for my dream, how hard it is straying from the comfortable path of English teacher. But, I want to try reaching, straying onto that scenic route and teach English in Japan.
When I realized I was graduating, I started looking into the logistics of the program and the experiences of previous JET participants. I read the blogs, every word on the JET homepage, anything I could find. Eventually, I joined the forums for people in the program, people who used to be in the program, and people like me, people who want to be in the program. Together, we watched and waited. We loaded our screens sixty or more times a day, just dying to know when we could start filling out the long-awaited application. November 2, 1:45 pm and there was an application, but the new registration was broken and I had to go to work. When I got home, November 2, 9:45 pm, I hopped on the computer, thinking it was just another useless attempt, but there it was! Twelve years of waiting, and suddenly, I could apply.
Applying was not part of the plan, which might explain why the waiting is leaving me in tatters. The clock had started. The application was due December 2 at 5:30 pm in Washington, D.C. I had one month to compile the main application, authorization and release forms, self-assessment medical form, physician’s form, transcripts from Salem State University and MCLA, proof of expected graduation, proof of U.S. citizenship, two references, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, all of this and less than a month to write no more than two pages explaining why they should want me.
For twelve years, I introduced myself as “Christine, I am going to teach English in Japan when I graduate.” At least, that was the introduction I used when teachers and professors asked for an interesting fact about myself. I defined myself by this dream; it was the thing that made me unique. Choosing to major in English? Easy. Selecting my Education minor? Simple. Working towards being an English teacher? No problem. But in all these twelve years, I never thought about making my defining feature a reality. How to get into JET had never crossed my mind. Now, I know how hard it is hard reaching for my dream, how hard it is straying from the comfortable path of English teacher. But, I want to try reaching, straying onto that scenic route and teach English in Japan.
When I realized I was graduating, I started looking into the logistics of the program and the experiences of previous JET participants. I read the blogs, every word on the JET homepage, anything I could find. Eventually, I joined the forums for people in the program, people who used to be in the program, and people like me, people who want to be in the program. Together, we watched and waited. We loaded our screens sixty or more times a day, just dying to know when we could start filling out the long-awaited application. November 2, 1:45 pm and there was an application, but the new registration was broken and I had to go to work. When I got home, November 2, 9:45 pm, I hopped on the computer, thinking it was just another useless attempt, but there it was! Twelve years of waiting, and suddenly, I could apply.
Applying was not part of the plan, which might explain why the waiting is leaving me in tatters. The clock had started. The application was due December 2 at 5:30 pm in Washington, D.C. I had one month to compile the main application, authorization and release forms, self-assessment medical form, physician’s form, transcripts from Salem State University and MCLA, proof of expected graduation, proof of U.S. citizenship, two references, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, all of this and less than a month to write no more than two pages explaining why they should want me.
How do you condense your reasons and qualifications for your lifelong dream into two pages? It took me three weeks of that single month and over eight drafts to finish, and even now two months after applying, I do not know if it was good enough. It started as four pages and over 1,200 words, then came down to two pages and 700 words.
Draft One: “My passion for Japan is probably almost as defining for me as my fairly obsessive love of English…”
Draft Two: “My passion for Japan is almost as defining for me as my love of English…”
Draft Three: “My passion for Japan defines me as much as my love of English…”
Draft Seven: “My admiration for Japanese culture defines me as much as my love of English…”
I had analyzed every word on the page, every piece of punctuation. I could not read it anymore.
Sending the application was easy. In fact, the time between stuffing my sixty-nine pages of application into the envelope and receiving my applicant number was the least stressful part of the process. Three weeks later I received my number: 1755175. Once that was in my hands, I was consumed.
It is crippling. My chest hurts. It’s hard to breathe. I can’t sleep right. No matter how hard I try, there is nothing else to talk about, write about, or think about. It’s a constant battle: should I be excited? positive? terrified? anxious? prepared? Honestly? I am all of these. My life is a giant knot and has been for months.
I know that I won’t find out if I get an interview until late January or early February. I know this. But, I check every day. My mouse moves over the tab, as the image of the JET U.S. homepage comes up and those big ugly red letters appear.
I know that I won’t find out if I get an interview until late January or early February. I know this. But, I check every day. My mouse moves over the tab, as the image of the JET U.S. homepage comes up and those big ugly red letters appear.
The 2012 JET Program Application is now CLOSED
I hit refresh once more, the page loads again and those vile words come back. I am stymied once more. Every day, I loiter on the forums discussing the anxiety and excitement that we all share. I talk about JET constantly. My friends and family are exhausted from the roller coaster. Today, I know I got in, tomorrow, I know I won’t, back and forth, sometimes in only seconds, sometimes in days. It never ends.
So here I am, waiting at a crossroads. Down one path is the easy normal life where I teach English in a U.S. high school. But down the other, I can catch a glimpse of Japan where I teach English as a foreign language. All people have dreams, but few actually pursue them. Since I assumed the end result and completely ignored the process, I am paying the price in stress. Now I can only assume that this is how people feel as they apply to be an astronaut or an intern at a hospital. I am wracked with the fear of failure and the excitement of success. Everything in me is pushing towards the scenic route, where I see Japan, my dream. For now, I cannot move forward. I wait, while someone else decides what road I follow next.
Friday, May 11, 2012
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.
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.
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