Is Japan worth it?
I’m currently 18 years old and have taken a gap year because after my (SHS) graduation this July, I was supposed to apply for a student visa and migrate there because half the members of my family is already residing in Japan. But all the people that underwent the procedure of applying for a long-term visa in Japan isn’t a smooth road to sail. There is a lot of delays and application procedures, not to mention the amount of money to be spent for the visa and the living expenses there. I decided to migrate after my senior high school because I deemed it to be a better option and to earn while studying with part time jobs (and also bc the pay & currency there is much higher here in the PH). I also don’t feel the sense of belongingness anymore here at home and have always felt a sense of comfort in Japan when I visit there. I was aware that migrating would be hard but I didn’t realize that you kind of have to sell your soul to if you’re not rich enough to pay for all the expenses. At least that’s how I feel. You have to have exceptional grades for universities, you have to be exceptionally good in Japanese to enter universities (yes I know this is necessary), you have to be somewhat extraordinary to get there opportunities. And the feeling of being so left out and out of track with your batch mates doesn’t feel great either. I want to cry every time I realize that it will take me how many years to finish college. (If I ever do have the chance to get in a university) I also feel like if I did settle here in the PH I would be so miserable about my situation and overall not be happy. Right now, I feel so hopeless and feel like I have no purpose in life.
I don’t even know my dream anymore because it feels so hard to achieve and out of touch for me. It feels like I have no choice but to take just the most convenient path and all of my efforts will be for nothing. I feel like I am made for things that are so much bigger but I have no chance in this life to live that kind of life.
Sorry if this kinda turned into a trauma dump, just really needed to let it out and sort my thoughts about Japan and migrating.
I’m open to hear all of your thoughts. 🙂