For me, when Odakyu Line or Yoyogi Hachiman Station is mentioned, I shall remember Aoyama School. A year has passed since enrollment and I had several meaningful cultural experiences through the various programs and activities other than classroom lessons. Beginning with Home Stay, followed by Speech Contest, Ping Pong Competition, School Excursion and the New Year Day’s celebrations. I felt these activities had been essentials as a foreign student. Even now, I can still recall these good old times. I shall never forget the principal and the teachers who had eagerly and kindheartedly taught us.

As this is my first time living away from my family in a foreign country, I am thankful to all the teachers’ kind support that made me felt very much at home. We came to study the Japanese Language as foreign students with different aims and objectives in relation to our future. There may have been the alternative of continuing education in our mother tongue but we had selected to walk this path, therefore we could give up. Even when difficulties arose, we had to face it courageously. Before achieving our goals, shortcomings and hardship in the process were encountered. However I think these shortcomings and hardship were an important part of our learning experience. Just like all of you, I cherished the times of happiness and unpleasantness here in Aoyama School. I wish we could continue to study and learn about Japanese culture until we are more competent.

I think that even as we graduate, it is not the end rather it is just the beginning. I believe that there are new challenges ahead concerning our comprehension of the Japanese Language. I believe our time of study in Aoyama School resembles the fetus in a mother’s worm. The nutrition from the mother is like our teachers’ earnest efforts to prepare us for the world ahead. From now, some will continue further education and others will be returning back to home countries to find work. Let us then together make use of what we had learned here and strive towards our new challenges. Let us put on a smiling face even when we are faced with difficulties.