"Hurrah! I won." The moment I shouted this, my life at Chuo
started earlier than any other student in my high school.
In fact, last summer I couldn't even decide which university I
wanted to attend. Namely, I couldn't decide what field I wanted
to study or proceed in the future. As a result, I couldn't study
except for the purpose of raising my ability for the entrance
examination. However, I did find the kind of university I desired
in fall. It was Chuo University Policy Studies. I
could study a lot of fields without clinging to one field. It was
a good point in this college, so I decided to enter the
University by recommendation. I passed an interview, and now I am
here, having the same purpose as everyone--at least I have some
common points by being here this college.
It never fails that strong human relationships are formed when
the feelings of the people are put together. The first thing I
want to tell you is about ETD. ETD means
English Through Drama. First, I had thought that I
wanted to speak English better, so I became a member. The main
purpose of ETD was to learn English through speaking
English all the time. The number of ETD was about forty
students. I think most people had the same idea as I, but I
didn't know whether a good relationship would be formed among the
member because we didn't know each other at all then.
The practice was very hard, for there were four rehearsals in
a week-Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (Sunday is from
10:00 A.M. through 5:00 P.M.). Everyone had a hard schedule in a
week, for example, we had to write essays, and do a lot of
assignments for Basic Seminar (KISOEN). Many people seemed to be
so tired due to hard schedules. However, the closes the
performance days came, the more our passion toward ETD
grew.
We were eager to accomplish our play. Most students stayed at
the University until late at night, and gave new ideas to make
our play better. Our goals were aimed at accomplishing our play,
so we could say anything to each other despite it being good
advise or not. Gradually, we were connected with one big tie by
some strong relationship. On the performance days, we had to do
our best, using the skills we had practiced since the beginning
of ETD.
In fact, there were some troubles on the performance (during
the first performance, part of the sound disappeared). However,
the people that came to see our play seemed to be happy. All the
audience gave us good comments. As a result, when the performance
days were all over, we were satisfied with the comfortable
atmosphere. We couldn't but think about the hard experiences we
had had, and unconsciously, a strong relationship was formed
among us. Our pure attitude toward the accomplishing our play
made a strong, tough relationship among us.
I didn't know how to explain it but certainly, some fresh air
spread to us. That was very nice. The next I want to tell you
about is my circle, Track and Field. I had been a member
of Track and Field club for six years since I was
twelve. The most interesting thing was relay. Especially, a four
hundred meter relay was very hard because in order to accomplish
our goal, the four runners had to put their feelings together to
accomplish one goal. If one person deviated from the other three,
he would drop the baton when he got or passed it. That's why the
four runners needed to know each other, and many practices were
needed to win the race. Similarly, a strong relationship was
needed among the members.
Last August, our Track and Field circle went to Nagano for the
camp. There, hard schedules were waiting for us; moreover, it was
very hot in Nagano. Therefore, everyone looked so tired, and felt
faint. However, the more the end of the camp came, the more
everyone's feelings got into swing. We had the bitterness of the
practice. Our minds faced the ending. Finally, our feelings put
together in EKIDEN on the last day. We were divided into three
groups, and competed against each other. Each team was eager to
win the race. Although people were cheering their own team, the
moment the race finished, they were glad to have made a great
effort each other in spite of different teams. That shows a real
strong relationship!
My first year at Chuo was full of such experiences. Of course,
we didn't know each other at first, but we could make friends if
we had the same purpose, and were making a great effort. It was a
character of social groups. We belonged to a lot of groups in our
life, despite whether we are aware of it or not. I don't know
what kinds of groups are waiting for me, but I think there will
be good strong relationships in them.
by Taisuke Kurokawa
