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Toyoko Academy High School (6) |
We think it's terrific to know what you want to do with your life, and work toward that goal. There are people, though, who can't stand to let their friends see them crying after they've done the very best they could, only to fail. These people typically construct images of themselves as not being allowed to cry because they're 'strong'. You probably know people like this yourself. Anno advises those present at this session to start by abandoning the images they've made of themselves.
"Disneyland Is My Dream"
Q. At least one person here has expressed envy at Kashiwara saying that she wants to go to a school of dance, and continue dancing for the rest of her life.
Kashiwara: I'm afraid though, of my dreams not coming true because I've got too big a goal in life. For now, I want to make the Baton Club a success, and dance at Disneyland.
Anno: Disneyland's exams are tough to beat.
Kashiwara: Yes, they are. I've taken and flunked them any number of times. First, there's the minimum age requirement. Then there's the fact that the examiners are foreigners, who place real importance on your smile.
Anno: If you want to make a living as a professional dancer, that's pretty much the only game in town.
Kashiwara: Either Disneyland or becoming an instructor.
Anno: No. If you really want to do your own dancing, and make your living doing it, it's pretty much Disneyland or nothing.
Kasagi: Dancing at Disneyland seems like fun, though.
Anno: I don't think so, seeing as how you're doing the same thing day in and day out.
Kashiwara: Even so, I think I'd enjoy it. Those outfits are incredible, with all the lights and everything.
Anno: Assuming you don't end up wearing the Mickey Mouse costume, that is.
All: (laughter)
Kashiwara: I couldn't be Mickey Mouse, though. I'm too tall. I'd probably get Pluto or Goofy.
Anno: True. You'd have to be the dog or some other tall character.
Kashiwara: Right.
Kasagi: You'd really rather be Cinderella though, right?.
Kashiwara: Yeah, but those characters only go to foreigners.
Anno: Disneyland is strict about its judgment requirements. It's not the kind of place where you can go and do whatever you want.
Kashiwara: The colleges I want to get into have courses aimed at auditioning for Disneyland. I know that because I checked them out thoroughly. I'm good at doing what I like, but I avoid things I don't like, such as math and chemistry.
Anno: They're of no use when you get out in the real world.
Kashiwara: I'd like to be able to compute ions and things like that in chemistry, though.
Anno: We have calculators to do things like that nowadays.
Kasagi: I like how answers come out of mathematics, though.
Anno: English and mathematics are all about accumulated knowledge.
"I Should Have Studied English..."
Kashiwara: Hey, Mitsui, you can speak English, right?. Teach me how, starting with the easy stuff, like 'This is a pen.' I really should have started when I was in seventh grade.
Anno: You are so right. I wish I'd studied English too. I really do.
Kashiwara: Me too. Right now, I'm really on the hairy thin edge.
All: (laughter)
Anno: English will actually be of use in the real world. You should learn other languages too, like Korean or Chinese. In fact, you should learn all the languages you can.
Q. Is there anyone else here who knows what they're going to do with their lives?
Retsu: I'd like to go into music. I've been studying piano for twelve years now.
Anno: You must be good.
Retsu: Well...
Kasagi: If you've been doing it for twelve years, you must have a talent for it.
Kashiwara: I took piano lessons for about six years, but didn't get very far. I really worked at it, too. I think it's a question of talent.
Retsu: More to the point, I enjoy it.
Kashiwara: If you're good at it, you will enjoy it. That's true of anything. Do what you're good at.
All: Right, if you're confident in yourself.
Retsu: I'm not confident in myself. There are lots of people better than me. But I want to stick with it. I just don't think I'm really that competent.
Kashiwara: That's a grown-up thing to say. But it's true, there are lots of people higher up than you. I never thought of that.
Anno: (laughs)
Kasagi: I think that's one of your good points, though, Aya (Kashiwara). You're confident in yourself, so you can't let anyone see even a little bit of breakdown. You practice in secret, out of pride.
Anno: You should start by throwing away your public image.
All: "Public image?"
Anno: Yes, the image you decide on, where you are this or that character type.
Kashiwara: There are times, though, when you think that you can't cry because you are who you are. You do have your particular character. I get the feeling that that's how the teachers really see the students. There are harsh things which they would say to me because I can handle it, but that they wouldn't say to a student who's more easily hurt by such things. I've never cried, even when I'm hurting, because I practice hard at home. I've made modifications to my home. I installed a barre and other stuff, and did it all myself.
(From the Oct. 29, 1998 Edition of Mainichi Intermediate-School News)