By Yusuke Yamada

English Major, 2006 Graduate

I have gotten accustomed to commuting on overcrowded trains these days, and have become familiar with the geography of Tokyo. It will be one year this March since I graduated from Sapporo University. After going into the new world with high expectations and hopes, I have gone through several tough periods. Now I live in a completely different environment than before, and I will write about my experiences in Tokyo and give some advice to students.

I am working for a trade company in Tokyo now. After graduating, my first job was in sales for an IT company. I quit that job, however, and my present employer is my second job. During my school days I didn't have a definite image of my future, so I chose to be a salesman without giving it much thought. Though I was sometimes annoyed by my first choice, I now enjoy my life. During my first year after SU, I sensed a great difference between being a student and being a business man. This means that I still had the mind-set of a student.

"Students are in a position where they pay money to school, but businessmen are given money by their companies. You need to understand this difference," my supervisor said over and over again. I could understand that logic, but couldn't understand its real meaning. He told me, "The daily amount of payment for utilities, and transportation expenses is paid to every staff member every day. Hence, you must earn these expenses by making a profit." I gradually absorbed what he wanted to say and I learned what I had to do. I must now have a positive attitude toward anything and take responsibility for my performance. Those are the distinctive differences from the past.

I surely have a lot of hard work to do, but on the other hand, there are many pleasant things. I have had the pleasure to meet a great number of people and learn various things from them. I have exchanged business cards with about 400 businessmen. I go out to drink with some of them at night. Such interpersonal encounters are my assets and one of my pleasures. This kind of enjoyment may be particular to salesmen, but each occupation will have its own delights.

In addition, I remember how astonished I was when I went inside a skyscraper in Tokyo. There was a gate like the train station's ticket gate on the first floor. Hundreds of people, including visitors and companies, employees, had to hold their cards over the scanner by the gate to enter the building. I was shocked and I thought that Tokyo is an amazing place. Anyone seeing this scene will dream of working in such a tremendous building.

So far I have written about my experiences. Lastly, I want to give a message to the current SU students. I think that your undergraduate days are your best opportunity to have many experiences, meet many people, and absorb things from them because you have much free time. These experiences will help you in the future.

When I was at Sapporo University, I could hear the lecture of a man working in Sapporo. He said, "Chances will come to you someday, so you have to prepare for them to grasp your opportunity." I remember his words and feel empathy with them now. Because I majored in English, I could participate in business deals with foreign companies and make business documents in English. I learned to make a homepage and a blog in my seminar at SU. It increased my interest in the Internet and now I produce my companyﾕs homepage.

You too can make use of experience or knowledge which may not be concerned with your future. It is a real waste to miss opportunities because of a lack of preparation. I hope that you will have many experiences, make many friends, and grow considerably, so that you will have many successes in the new world after graduation.