Ueno Photo Walk

Yes I am but it turned out this job has a very unbalanced work/life balance. Currently figuring out how to iron that out. At the end, it is one thing to get the job you want, it's another to get it to fit into your life.

Well I am a nursing student at the moment working towards a Masters Degree. Trying to become a Nurse Practitioner. I pretty much knew from High School that I wanted to Either be a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner (Have the ability to diagnose and prescribe meds and all that good stuff without being a full fledged doc in a sense). I would try for med school but do not want to spend all those years attempting to get in and then all those years working towards it.

As for your posting, damn whatever happened to little kids wanting to be a Doctor, Lawyer, or President (Prime Minister). I guess that is just here and not Japan.

As usual, very inspirational post, Danny. I love reading these posts, they always make me want to redouble the effort I am putting into reaching my goals. I'm happy to say that I do know what I am passionate about, computers. More specifically, I like creating things that pertain to computers, building computers and even building websites. To that point, I am not completely sure of the specific occupation that I want, but I know it will be in that field, and I want to be in Japan when I make that happen. So, in order to help achieve those goals, I am working toward my masters degree in Computer Science & Engineering, and I am planning on minoring in Japanese language.

I know that I will achieve my goals, I am quite determined. While I have had the opportunity to grow up in a reasonable good environment, my family has had hard times before, and I have also been around MANY people and have heard many stories about hard times and living an unsatisfactory life. I will not lead that life myself, and I don't want my future family to have to go through anything but a nice life, that is why I'm so determined.

Figured mine out last year and im now wasting time accomplishing my course XD
A good read once again DC ^^V

I never really knew what I wanted to do exactly, but eventually just fell into my current job in software testing/support. I enjoy working with technology, and am pretty happy with my job - well at least I have never hated it and always find it easy to get up and go to work, unlike my first few jobs.

The best thing about my job is the excellent work/life balance that my employer promotes. I never have any dramas getting time off to spend with my family when needed, so I don't mind giving back a little of my own time to work when things come up.

Probably one of the toughest steps I took earlier in my life was to quit my first full-time job and go back to university full-time. My Dad believes in having a job and sticking to it, so he couldn't understand why I'd throw in a 'perfectly good job'. While I never actually used my degree qualifications in my working life, I have no regrets about spending all that time and money to put myself through university. It taught me a lot, and was a great experience.

Regarding the aspirations of the kids these days, it's the same here in Australia. So many want to be famous like a TV personality or something, just like Japan. It's quite disturbing really. I just hope I can teach my kids enough about life so that they do not get caught up in the pointless 'wanna be famous' trend.

Thanks for the inspirational posts Danny. I always enjoy them.

Excellent post Danny! Posts such as these always make me re-think where I'm going in life and make sure what I'm doing is the right thing for me. Right now I'm pursuing my degree in Civil Engineering and can't be happier. A year or two ago I was lost and had no idea where I was headed but after spending some time away from school I was able to come up with the answer. Again, great post and thanks for the excellent read.

Another splendid article from Mr. Danny!

I'm not so sure about what I should pursue. Currently, I'm taking mechanical engineering to fulfill my parents' wish of finishing a course with a degree. I'm thinking of taking Aeronautical Mechanics after I graduate and become a licensed engineer, using my would-be job as an engineer to pay for my own tuition (and help my family) so that I can be closer to one of the things I'm interested in, aircraft! OR I could study to become a pilot (after I graduate and become a licensed engineer of course) and fulfill my dream of piloting an aircraft.

There's also this feeling that i should be in the military. My father is ok with this but my mom isn't too happy with the idea. To fulfill both mine and my mom's wish, I'm panning to become a reserve officer just like my dad.

Thanks for the inspirational post again Danny~ It made me feel just that little bit more like studying for my exams tomorrow instead of drifting around on the internet.
I don't really know what occupation I want to be in as of yet. I am not too bad with computers but I feel that working with computers makes me grumpy and lose sleep, which is definitely not something I want to be happening for the rest of my life. I'll probably go into something health related like Zou if my grades are good enough T_T

As a short term goal I wanted to set up a blog, being inspired by the great blogs I've been redirected to while reading through articles on DannyChoo. However being a student in the final year of high school has made it difficult to work on goals like this. Hopefully being in university next year I'll have more time to make a blog and work towards making my room into an otaku shrine. I feel quite jealous of Danny's table overflowing with figures as I have nothing otakuish at all. Hopefully next year in uni will have more time. Will be studying Japanese as an elective of course to fulfill my dream of going to Comiket without seeming like a gaijin~ Taking JLPT lv2 this year so hopefully I can skip a few years of uni jap with that!

This shurely reminds me of that post i posted not too long ago...if anybody loves this post like i do then you must read mine to http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/7214/Jobs+for+Otaku.html this post has alot of information about jobs and following your dreams. if you are interested please click the link.

Danny,

Thanks much. I really needed this pick-me-up today. Difficult times at the office. My IT/Information Security occupation really wears me down. I'm an art major, and much more creative than my occupation allows!

I need to go on more photo walks myself. Good piece of news today was I excelled today at my weekly/evening violin lesson, even though I was exhausted from the long day.

Thanks again, and always know that your posts and insight are very much appreciated.

yea Thanks Danny, at first i thought you were originally from Japan...silly me

I already know what I want to do, now where do I wanna do it is another matter because I have intentions in leaving my country when I'm done in the university.
About japanese jobs, it seems what I read some months ago was true, I remember reading some news that japanese companies are looking for foreign engineers (electronics, computers, etc...) because of the lack they are having of their own, because most people are not attending those courses there because they say it's to difficult and they want something easier.

I just started my 1st year studying Civil & Structural Engineering, might wanna pursue a masters in Japan after my four years here. Any advice? :)

hm...more words of advice to think about...
pretty much stuck in life right now with no idea of how to get moving again. I'd like to believe I have passion in the things I enjoy, but oftentimes find myself always coming back to the same hole I dug myself and settling back into it, becoming the person I always am. It sure is hard to move my two feet forward when my legs are stuck.

Splendid post Danny , post like these gives me inspiration to go and try reach my goal. hmmm....fpr now i dun know what i wanna do in life....my hobbies seems to be very....scattered ,as i like drawing and also calculating things.

Deffinetly great post Danny! First time I payed more attention to the text than to the photos...

Since some time, I have strongly decided to study computer science, cause I love computers, love spending hours and hours in front of the computer, every day learning new things, nd love the idea of spending lots of time coding, meeting new chellenges every day and working with a computer. On the other hand, as you, since little maybe since 3 years old, I spended long afternoons watching Mazinger Z, seeing the credits with strange characters that I didnt understand back then... and those little things led me to certain espisodes of my life that made me realize I love japanese culture and would like to learn japanese nd if possible live in Japan one day working in what I love... Actually i only learn japanese as a hobby, and by myself(but seriously), but in few time i would like to study in an academy to learn it better.
I think i did well in choosing what i would like to be right now, because I have the university just around the corner, in three years...
I will follow your advice, I will follow my passion, and reach my goals, going little by little, but with the objective of reaching the goals finally. You deffinetly represent a model for me, cause, you live in Japan, have a good job, speak japanese etc and thats all what i want to do also.

Sorry for the so-long comment, but todays post just awoke my sentimental part... xD

very inspiring! Thanks Danny~ ^^

I was still holding my childhood dream of being a lawyer until 2 years ago ^^; I remembered I was watching this drama show about lawyer and at those moments I always thought, "They are soooo cool!" and I grew to believe very much in justice that justice will prevail no matter what.

I only have a vivid picture of what I want to do now, so I will take one step at a time to make that picture clearer even if its just abit ^^ I am only doing random part-time jobs now, from flyer distributor to ice-cream cart seller (god, this was the first time I ever feel like I am begging better than a full-time begger) to warehouse assistant and they hardly last for even a month; I always hop around trying different jobs ^^;

Thanks again for another inspirational piece! I'm still searching. Hope I find out before I leave school next year.

No, that's is the reason i put myself into both sad life and work. My mom always nagging me my salary were so low. -_-;;;

Great article for starters. Ive had my aim set on a particular career for a while now and I've been working towards that goal for many years now. However I've recently been getting interested in other subjects, many of them introduced to me by you through this blog :)
I like to keep an open mind about my future, but i do have a plan and a number of things i want to achieve in the coming years.

Thanks Danny... your articles about life has always got me thinking.

I am currently stuck in a job I don't like but have no guts to walk away from ... because I do not know what I really want and also because my family depends on my earnings. It may sound pitiful but I really think my life has been wasted so far... *sigh* ... I will work to find my passion and hopefully have the courage to pursue it.

It's nice to see that it was the original Macross that made you look more at anime, as I just finished watching it too and I really loved it. Even though it's already quite old it's still very good (although the visual quality may not be of todays standards). Choosing between Misa or Minmai would be Misa for me ^^ (although all the characters are memorable and the valkyrie are awesome, want a model of it).

About my occupation, I've already finished school and I have done what I wanted to do from when I was a kid: becoming a computer programmer. I have a achieved this and I have a quite stable job doing it. Although I must say it's not exactly 100% satifying because I want to do more web development than application development, but it's okay for now.

My goal is to be the CTO of a fortune 500 company. I love computers. I just have a natural easy communication with them. I have worked in a call center doing technical support and training but never could break out into the actual IT field. So I started going to college part time to get a degree that says I really do know about computers ^_^;;

So far in school, I have been getting my generals out of the way. I have a long long road ahead of me there.

In work, my position was dissolved and I have been unemployed for a several months trying to get a company to take a chance on me in an entry level IT position. Finally got that chance just last week. I am still waiting to start, but my foot is finally in the door to starting to pursue my passion.

Great words Danny. I'm doing just that. got my bachelors in mechanical engineering, a masters in management and certified in more things than i can list. Goal? Retire at the age of 45 and travel the world after that...with the possibility of living in Japan for a few years...without a job so i can tour the country and enjoy one of the cultures i love the most and grew up with as a child.

My first love is web design but I don't think I have the skills and technical knowhow to make it there. My second is Japanese but foreign languages have never been my strong point. It's coming to a point where I'm afraid I'll have to settle for a mediocre job and push both of those to the back burner. But your post has made me think about where I should shuffle my energy in the hopes that I can get that dream job. Thank you.

My passion?

Well, when i was in my last year of high school, during the final 3 days of exams, i kept hearing among my friends "what are you thinking of doing at Uni?" "what job do yo think you might get someday" ,etcetcetc.

I remember speaking to my english teacher and asking "why did you choose this job?" "does it make you happy?" "did you choose to take this path?" etcetc.
He told me one thing though. He said "Do something that you love doing. Something that you feel you'll never hate and never get bored of. Something that will challenge you for the rest of your life but not way above your head."

I took his advice directly and went and decided not go to Uni. I have a few friends who were fresh 1st years, experienced workers, the lot. What i came to commonly find is that out of those who made a decision early and worked towards that goal, had happy and fulfilling careers. Out of those who didn't, they switched courses multiple times through their Uni life. They ended up wasting 3-4 years of their early adulthood life just finding a course/job they'd 'enjoy' doing or something that'd 'put food on the table'.

That's where i made my turning point and decided to run head on into getting a Diploma of Network Engineering at a tertiary education institute (TAFE for u all u aussies). I knew i loved being around and working with computers, i knew i had a knack for anything electronic and am always have a love for such environments. I still want to remain where i am and continue to drive myself as far forward as much as possible into the IT world.

ok i better stop there or this wall of text will just become tl;dr. =______="""
thanks for yet another inspirational post danny!!!
ps: i will try to work harder this week T________T

You're like me, Danny. Though I did have a bit of background in HK cuz I was born in HK, but left early. Learning other languages and culture really manifested me to live there all the more, knowing now that Canada is going to do poor in the future because we're too attached to the US. I have bad grades in computer sciences (C+), but I always work in software companies for my co-op terms. And like you, I am learning japanese at the moment and wanting to go back to japan to work in the future. Thank you very much for your share of history life Danny ^_^

I had a supervisor who actually told me that one should go for what they are good at instead of what they are interested, or else s/he may not be able to keep up with the stressful and high-demand society. He followed that path and it seems to work for him pretty well. Different environment, different people I suppose; it's a funny world.

It's kinda sad how people would go for money instead of field of interest over here. Most people only have money in their mind and rush for investment banking, business, and law, while not caring how much they will sacrifice in terms of free time and interest. The shrinking variety of employment and work doesn't make things any better. If your ideology works in Hong Kong I think it's gonna be a very different place by now.

Since Japan's quite a developed and advanced country, I can see why teens there want to do different field of work...

As for what I want to do, I guess I am still clueless but I do have a rough sketch of what I want to do in the future... I want to take things slowly for now and see what's the outcome, I hope it's a good one! LOL

like you, i'm also still collecting pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. this reminds me of what steve jobs said in his commencement address at stanford. something about connecting the dots.

What Danny shared must be a great coincidence or maybe the long awaited sign I need from the heavens above. I experienced the same dilemma in pre-college. I took Electrical Engineer not because that is what I wanted to do but because of the forecast I made that there would be a great need of Electrical Engineer by the time I graduate. My father used to work on Public Electric Utility Company (Meralco - May liwanag Ang buhay not Shinra XD) and I notice the age gap of the employees on the company. In other words, they have 80% people who are in retirement age and the company's hasn't doinga nything to replenish it. I was right! I landed on the job from my father's company belonging to the top 5 corporate companies in the Philippines.

But I only now realize my today what i really want to do - to be in the IT sector than the Electric sector. I'm thinking of getting some computer programming short courses because my computer programming units way back in college in only basic C++. Is taking a short courses would eventually help me transfer to different sector? What do you think? Or should I get a degree on Computer Science / IT?

I'm trying to get a head of Dept job in three different Zoos. Crap pay, but its a job i love. I love animals, me.

I am so greedy,guys...I want to get many occupation..
Let me list it out...maybe you guys can give me some opinion.
Film Director
Software Engineer maybe a game software designer
Book Writer
Chemical Engineer
Computer Engineer
that's all..

I was kinda lost till last year, doing jobs I didn't want till I finally got my first camera, them I started taking pictures and just thinking it would be another hobby like anime and figures, but little by little I started enjoying it every day and decided that this could be finally the "something" I want to make my living with. I'm still starting but I already started taking some classes to improve and started to contact some people.

What I really want is to combine the two things I love, photography and cosplay. Since the cosplay scene here isn't much popular (even though we won WCS for 2 years) I want more people to know about it and eventually about anime as well.

Nice post as always Danny, I know you probably hear this a lot, but these posts are very inspiring and every time I read one of those it gives me the strength to keep moving forward with a smile.

Very inspirational post danny. Nice work.

I totally agree that people should persue occupations that they are passionate about.

What an inspirational post danny...well said ..well said.

hmm.

mwahaha! I see ..
Japanese people wanna be like me MWAHAHAH!!

I'm a musician so ...

I dunno .. hahah

MWAHAHAHA
whatever -_-

thank you for another inspirational post Danny. been thinking since your last post. I do make a decent amount of money from the work I do, and certainly am able to provide for my family's needs and wants. however after some self searching found that I'm not as enthusiastic of what I do as compared to you. although I can't really say that I'm sad with my work, I seem to have lost that passion I had when I started with the business. I've actually been doing some unrelated sideline work to find the right path for myself. but so far none of them drive me with as much passion as you have been with your work.
I probably need to find myself a better "life destination" don't I. ^^;

I am currently a grade 12 student and is going to study in the Japanese university next year. I already generally knew what I want to do but still don't know exactly and don't know how to reach the goal I set. I hope that studying in the university will tell me how.

By the way, what I worry is my English writing skill. I know that English is very important but still, I can't write in English properly. May be because I love Japanese than English. I think I have to try harder for both of them...

I want to work in the manga industry, but as of now, I still have no idea of how to get there or what kind of job I would want to have in there. :P

Very inspirational Danny. It is this kinda post that keeps pushing me closer to my goals. My goals? I am currently working hard to complete my course in technical direction for films and really hope to become an accomplish technical artist in the near future.

I also remember you quoting something from Star Wars that goes like this "There is no try, only do". This phrase had me determined whenever I start on a particular task. It is also this phrase that got me into making decision more decisively.

I love these posts... thanks for the inspiration as always danny.

Last year I was studying first year Actuarial Science and hating it, so I decided that the next year I'd take a jump, save some money and head for my dream to go to Japan. I know I don't want to spend the rest of my life calculating peoples finances, so I'm glad I stopped while I hadn't done too much.

Albeit now I have to find a nice path toward the things I *do* want to do...

wow danny this is one of your best blogs to date and great pics. like so many others, I to was lost on what I want to do with my life, but its starting to take shape. I am currently an enlistee in the U.S Navy which I hope to leave for boot camp by the end of the year.I am already learning to speak japanese and I like gaming so I will take some classes on computer programming . then I will see where that leads me. (hopefully to japan.)

I don't know what i wanna do at the moment, but i am thinking about majoring in philosophy at the university and in 4 months i am leaving for for a international peoples college, so prehaps i will find something out there.

danny, very inspirational post... right at my mood now (i was thinking about this too)
i'm planning to go to japan to learn sculpting, or whatever u advertise (figures), but i seriously have no idea,
do i have that much originality myself?
what if i got eliminated from competition?
how can i work in a figure company that i want to? do these work can make me life happily?

also making manga, while i can't draw myself, i kinda have script, in my head, unwritten...
i'm suck at making story's too -.-

i'm a type of ppl who doesn't really feel accomplished if i just buy it... i want to build it, i want to customize it...

anyway, if i may now, do figure sculptor make good amount of money?

other than that... i want to nurse my family, i'm considering to take my father business,and do those (manga/figure making) in my holiday/ free time
produce it myself, see if it sell well, and i maybe consider to make a company for it
there's no figure/toys manufacturer here in indonesia, so if i done well, well yeah...

or simply said, i have lot of interest in otaku business, and populizing otaku here in indonesia

Great Post Danny, I love your blog so much.

Just want to say, I pretty feel exactly the same way you do about things. I'm not a CS major, but a nanotechnology major, but Japan, Japanese culture, and otakuism are the only things that get me really excited about things.

You're my personal hero, and your achievements are amazing in my book. I hope that I can at least do something along the same lines. Still trying to find that career connection to go from Canada to Japan though.

I found my passion in Games so Im following a Game Development course
that takes about 4-5 years and after that i get the highest possible graduation document or something so i can start working at a game company.

Im now in the first year of the course and Next year i may go work as a trainee ( internship/placement) in JAPAN !!! at a Game Company !! :D

I really love Japan and it's my dream to work/live in Japan :D

And im doing whatever it takes to reach my goal so im already learning Japanese ( Im 16 years old !! ) and im now learning Kanji symbols. ( already mastered Hiragana/Katakana )

I learned about 250 Kanji symbols within 3-4 weeks and i wont stop till i learned them all :)
I learn everyday like 10-15 symbols and i repeat all the symbols that i learned everyday after that + the new ones ( YES !! all the symbols !! )

So im really looking forward to go to Japan for 1 year and,
who knows... Maby i even get the chance to meet you Danny ;)

Im really looking forward to these things that take place within a couple years so ;)

And learning Japanese isnt hard ! it's easy !! since im really motivated and i think it's fun to learn :-)

Thanks for posting everything about Japan ,Danny, i really love your site, i check it everyday to find out new things and stuff about Japan ;)

Have Fun !!!

This is a really good article Danny. It was exactly what I needed to get me motivated again. Lately, I've lost the motivation to really pursue anything. This has helped me realize that if I want something, I have to really work for it. I mean, even though I already know that, it is sometimes good to hear it coming from someone else. Thanks again Danny!

Praise Danny Choo the honorable! As always your helpful motivational article have inspired many of your pleasant readers. It always give us the extra N2O boost & brighten up the light to get us moving forward into accomplishing what we want to achieve in life.

I had always wanted to become a Venture Capitalist ever since I'm involved seriously in businesses at the age of 16. Pushing myself till the extend that I sacrifice all my sweet youth into building my business empire, now that I look back in time, I have no memory about my schoolhood. Well, everyone have to give up something in order to gain something new, give & take it's how the universe works. At a time that I'm so close into achieving my paramount needs, chaos strike & brought havoc to my organization causing me to lose everything that I worked so hard to obtain, both materially & mentally.

Now that I had been reborn into a new identity & live a new life as an ordinary teenage adult, my journey of life seem to be only the beginning & new challenges awaits my daily routine. What are better things to do than planning ahead & setting new goals in my new journey; So I placed my interest in Computer Science & everything related to it (partially influenced by Danny Choo ^_^), but the reality strike in when I trying to register for the course in any college, I do not have a highschool graduation certificate which doesn't grand me into my further study.........Alternatively, I can always learn it myself from books, but I know it gonna be very tough as I don't know anyone that are willing to offer thier kind assistant, therefore I had postponed this study plan orz........

Since now I'm living a new life, I get to do what I missed out during my early youth, so I started into cosplays. Without my further expectation, I got scoutted for my passion in cosplay & props-building talent, was later recruited as cosplay talent for a movie-based event company & currently ended up working full-time for that company in event organizing sector ^^;
This occupation is a new challenge for me, differ from what I used to handle, have to come up with new creative idea to organize a successful event & pleading for sponsors is like setting fire on my balls.

Basically, my passion in cosplay had landed me a job which I'm still trying to adjust myself into it. I have huge interest into everything Japan (thanks to the influence of Maid In Japan's advance technologies, A.C.G & AV stuffs ^^;) I used to pick up japanese purely for the purpose of completing & understand japanese console games & dating sims.

One thing we must all greatly agree upon in this article is breaking your daily rountine so that you may end up something new by exploring. Finding what ones is passionate is not an easy task, but never stop trying, keep hitting until you found it. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a little step ahead. While exploring what you passionate about, Security (financial/monetary wise) is another issue that will soon arise, so make sure you had planned ahead before you start your thrill-seeking journey.

All the best to DC readers in finding what you are passionate about ;-)

For a career i'd love to be able to draw freelance for major companies. Designing those large banners that are dotted around Akiba, or posters for Pachinko machines would be my ideal job. There are people that say you shouldn't make your hobby (in my case drawing) your career, but designing things that will be viewed by a possible infinty of people, that would be incredible and very fulfilling.

When I first went to college, I was in the game design field. Then I realized I liked doing 2D graphics, and web stuff more than 3D modeling and and stuff like that. I'm glad I had the opportunity to be exposed to Flash, I just wish I knew this sooner, like when I was in high school. Now I just finished with my university last month and looking for work. I'm also practicing to get better at my passion.

I'm extremely grateful to be working in the animation industry. It's great to be in an industry were your hobby and passion is your occupation. Though everything comes at a cost...since my line work is not consistent. I have to keep looking for projects to work on and pay the bills. ^^;

It's funny, a couple years back I thought it would've been impossible me. I was initially studying film and had a epiphany one day realizing I wanted to be in animation. Crap! I was already a senior and graduating soon, what am I suppose to do? So, I started looking into drawing and was fortunate enough to meet someone that took me under his wing. A year of animation classes was not going to be enough for me to get a job in the cartoon biz....what am I going to do!?
I did some research and found out that there was also a production side to animation. Aha! That's what I'll do, animation production~! I mean, it should be the same thing right? So I thought to my naive self. Through a series of luck and hardwork, I was able to get my foot in the door. Yet, that was just the beginning. I had to work hard and long hours to work myself up the production ladder. Something that I'm still doing today. It's something I wouldn't have any other way.

Thanks for the yet another inspiring article ^^
I don't feel very young anymore and I think I am still seeking to a certain extent I have collected some puzzle pieces tho, just don't want to talk too much about my plans, would rather do it then talk about it lol I think I had more drive when I was a teenager ^^;;;

It wasn't until recently that I found out that I would enjoy cooking so much. At first it was just a fascination. I took up Business Administration and Computer Application in college. Got tired of it after thinking for so long that it was my passion. Now, I'm taking up culinary classes and enjoying it very much and plan on putting up my own restaurant once I've completed my course.

I know that I want to be either in animation, story boarding, or character design, but I think I'm taking a sort of roundabout way of getting there. >.< I'll probably have to go to grad school to really get good at any of those, which isn't a thought that makes me happy. I'm still glad I opted to get a university undergrad rather than going straight to art school, though--I feel that what I'm getting here is a lot more well-rounded than what an art school would provide.

Five years ago, When I was 15, I watched my first anime on tv. Got hooked onto it, somehow. Would rush home from school daily just to catch it. It slowly grew. I would look up drawing tutorials for drawing mangas when I had the free time. And was drawing in my textbooks. My teacher often scolded me for doing so.

A year later, 16, I was about to graduate from Secondary school. I already had an idea in mind what i wanted to do: Animation. So, got meself into a Polytechnic with a Diploma in Digital Media Design. Did stuffs that were not what I like, but told myself to go thru it just for the diploma. During the 3 year course, I knew that what i like was 2D anime production and not what the sch taught, 3D. Despite many of my peers telling me that 3D is the money-maker, I told them that I do not like 3D stuffs. Possibly lazy.

Graduated beginning of this year. Did relatively nothing to achieve my goal: Which is to get to Japan and study anime production. Yoyogi Animation School's the one that I had taught of enrolling myself in. Researched the cost of entering the school, living there, etc, and it was quite a big shock. But still, I'm still determined in going there.

As of now, I'm about to be enlist in the army cum saturday. 2 years will be gone but I'm inspired by people around me (mainly bloggers) to make full use of the 2 years in army and study Japanese during the period. Will do so by self-studying Japanese, which got me a Jlpt 4 cert last year.

Anyway, this is just what is on my mind now. Looking through my past, more determined to go through the shits that are about to come. It's a long way, done relatively lot's of things even though they look like nothing.

Btw: I read ALL the comments. It was kick-ass good stuffs. It made me wanna rethink "Have I achieve goals like them?" And the truth bring me to tears. No! But hey, 2 years is going to be long but a fruitful trip. Many new things await and life experiences to learn.

And oh, my meaning in life: When I close my eyes and breath out my last breath, I wanna know that I did my best at everything I do, accomplished my dreams, and go to heaven peacefully. Did my best not only in religious stuffs, but also on my career stuffs.

Looking forward to your Meaning in life post.

A beautiful post. I look up to you because you reached your goal, so it's nice when you post stuff like this to help and inspire others.

My goal in life is to reach Japan or Seoul and to live and work there. I'd prefer to go to Japan and maybe take business trips to other countries like seoul though ^_^ I have thought about it alot and have everything planned out! I understand that things go wrong, and already have, but having this goal really helps alot- gives a meaning to everything. It gives a focus in your life, so when things get stressful you stop and think about it and suddenly you have the energy to continue despite everything.

I have recently started college and am taking pyschics, maths, chemistry and a more fun route RE. RE is my fun choice, while the rest I don't mind but are more practicle. I believe that in the world we live in you cannot really just throw away everything and follow your heart completly. You do need to think about money and that sort of stuff. By doing science and maths and working hard I hope to get into a good university and take up engineering, and also a language like Japanese or maybe Korean. Engineering is a worldwide thing, not to mention I have an interest in nuclear power and I think that Japan has plenty of nuclear power stations (not googled it though). Also engineering takes you on business trips to nice places despite the usual place you work XD

From then I hope to take my last year of uni abroad in one of my countries and from there I hope to somehow end up there. In the end I want what many want- a decent life in a country I love. I'm working very hard towards this goal right now ^_^

Alas I am still unsure what I am passionate about... I like a lot of aspects about my job but others I do not like and on some days they make waking up hard...

Venture into uncharted waters you say? Well if I'd know which interest me, I might... but not really sure on that either.

At times I have wondered if I could handle a busy life like you seem to have Danny, or that of others that post here or of friends and colleagues. I always get the impression I still need some breathing room at the end of the day to recuperate, else I just seem to loose track of what I was doing or am not feeling focused enough on whichever task I'm doing.

When I was younger I wanted to be a lawyer like my father but after spending a day in his office doing boring paperwork, I realized that it wasn't what I wanted in life. I flirted with the idea of becoming a videogame reviewer since I was an avid gamer and I had a pretty decent command of English. I happened to stumble upon an online job offer for a position as a writer for a local game operator who wanted to come out with a magazine that featured the company's and other various online game titles.

Although the magazine didn't last long, it opened doors for me as I attended game events which increased my profile among the local game media and community. Eventually, I met another game magazine editor who introduced me to his Editor-in-Chief after the first magazine that I worked on folded. The chief editor was the head of a very popular local IT magazine and an up-and-coming game magazine, and he saw that I had potential.

Two years on and I'm now the editor for the videogame magazine. Although the workload as an editor can be tough, I get to write and work about my favourite subject: videogames and anime (only recently added an anime section to the magazine and it's getting a good response). One could say it's a dream job as I sometimes get to play the latest games for review or meet famous game developers/producers. Ironically enough, sometimes I don't have enough time to play the games that I want because I'm too busy with work!

Times like these I can relate to the Japanese haha. A few of my most wanted occupations are on that list, my primary one is to be a DJ. I don't know if I can make it happen, but I try to practice whenever I can. I'm taking some basic music classes to understand how music is put together and some some electronics classes to understand how to repair my equipment. ^_^;

i'm studying computer programming right now and i'm happy with it but its only something i want to do till i'm 40

after 40 i want to retire and just enjoy whatever time i have left

This maybe odd, but these are the post that originally drew me to your site and they are what make me continue to come back. I'm not even half as hardcore as some of the otakus here, but I love your "slice of life" posts and the insights you share for life in general. Thanks again Danny.

My current job is Overseeing the daily operations of a small distribution/packaging company. I have to manage employees, talk with customers about their work, operate a fork lift, utilize a few software programs, and perform tedious task over and over and over and over! Its all easy for me, but not very rewarding. However, it provides me with money, which allows me to survive and gives me the chance to find what it is i really desire for a career.

My main passion is music. And not this "fake" music that's popular today,but real music: Classical, Jazz, Operas,anything instrumental. Sadly, that leaves very few options as far as careers are concerned. I play a classical guitar, so being a concert performer, instructor, or professor is really the only option there. I always tell people "follow your bliss" which is essentially the same thing you're saying, but its not always easy depending on what that bliss is!

And whats with that list! A perfect example of how media and entertainment are destroying our cultures and societies in many ways. Basically, the kids want to be showered with attention, wear trendy items, look as fake as every other 2-bit "talent", and score all the hot ladies/guys. Is this the message we should be sending to our youth! Its the same one was that sent to me in my younger days! I'm very saddened by this list.... Not one scientific career on there.....are they trying to make future generations dumber on purpose around the world? If so, they're doing a damn good job!

I always wanted to be a history/English teacher.

I'm currently studying for a degree in Biochemistry. It's interesting, and challenging, but with my recent experience of working in a lab full time... I don't think I could stand having to go into the same sterile, constant environment everyday to perform the same tests day in day out. I mean the rewards could be fantastic, cures or vaccines that could one day save someones life. I figure I'll stick at it because at the end of the day it's a degree, but no idea what I'll do with it. I love these kind of articles, they always make me want to go out and achieve something, or find something I love to do. It's good advice ^^
I've considered the language exchange option but I'm quite a nervous/shy person so it's building up the confidence in my case heh ^^; I guess I've still got some soul searching to do until I find whatever drives me. Good job Danny =]

I love this. Folks, make up your mind what you want to do with your life at some early age like 18 or even 28 (not too late at 28)- I DIDN'T, although I could have, and now I look forward every day to one of the least rewarding jobs on the planet, which I have been doing for about half my life. Lovely.
I hear kids in this country only want to be pop stars as well. They don't realise even if they do they will be famous for about six weeks and then find themselves either in rehab or back where they started, or both. I knew someone who wanted to be a pop star. Luckily she saw sense after a while.
I have done that walk from Ueno station - carry straight on down the road and you fetch up in Akihabara! I'll be there first week in November if anyone's around...

Everytime I read these articles I think that what brought me to DC was some strange parallel connection on my life with Danny's. :P
Only Danny had more courage and a clear vision to follow his dreams... XD

In Brazil, things are kinda different... we have to make this major test to enter an university.
I also didn't know what to do when the time came, so I just picked what was closer to me: Computers.

My dad worked in it, and I spent most of my time in front of a computers, so I thought "why not"?
I spent almost double the time to graduate, spent 2 years lost without knowing what to do after I graduated, and tried almost 2 more years on a post graduate course on Game Development.

Now, I'm ditching my past 10 years to start all over again on a completely different area in a completely different course: Journalism... starting next year.
I'll be more than 10 years older than my classmates.

This time, I can say it's my own choice. But even so, I don't know as much as I'd like to about the profession.

I won't say these past 10 years are completely gonne to waste, but yeah, it would've been far better if I realised sooner that working with computers is not my thing.

Anyways, I'm hoping I'm going to the right direction this time, and I consider myself the luckyest guy on the planet for having a supporting mother (my dad is already deceased) who can put up with such a selfish stubborn dependant child. ^^'

Originally, I wanted to work in cybernetics. However, not getting into the engineering college at Michigan State (I had one really bad year.) meant that was out. So, I went into physics (And, recently, got a degree in Chemistry) to work in forensics. However, other than the insurance companies or state agencies, it is very difficult. Even if the job market was great (As it was in 2000 when I graduated with the Physics degree) it is hard to get in. No chance of you hooking me up with the Japanese Police, Danny? I'd even let you commit a major felony and get away with it....

Nicely said Danny, makes me think about what i'm doing at uni and if its really what i want.... I'm studying Computer Networks and Security but i honestly have no idea what kind of job requires the knowledge i'm gaining, i guess thats something i will have to look into.

I've found a passion of mine now i just have to find a way to support myself financially with it O_o, anyone know of a gaming / watching anime profession?

Danny, I'm not sure how "Asian" your parents are, but mine have always seemed to pressure me into going the typical money routes. I was always told to be a bio-engineer, doctor, lawyer, financial analyst, or businessman. My grades needed to be able to get me into the hotshot schools. Ahh, being first generation is such a pain.

I'm not entering my first year as an undergraduate at a large, public university in California, and I have just now been able to convince my parents that I don't want anything to do with the jobs they've wanted me to have. My passions will not change, and that's why I expect what I learn in university, and I do with that knowledge, and how I build my life in the next few years will definitely be geared towards what I love.

After all, freedom can be filled with hard work. As long as you like what you do and feel like it fulfills you. :)

Danny, I have to know what settings you're using on your camera. I'll be in Tokyo Oct 1st through 11th and I want to get great pictures like this. I have an Digital Rebel XT and just picked up the Signma 18-200mm lens on your recommendation.

In reference to the subject talked about, I work in Network Security, which is where I want to be. It also allows me to travel a bit, hence the trip to Tokyo.

you missed another voting option: "Already am (and indifferent)" cuz thatz where I think I am right now....

I'm already in too deep as an accountant after finishing my CA/CPA that I can't go back anymore...If I had a choice I would want to be a graphics designer of some sort...oh well

Well, I think every begining its difficult. I got lower grades when studing the first years in college and I started the computer science because of my friends as well, but now I like it and always keep my mind in trying to mix CS with anime (my two passions,...hahaha).

Interesting article.

In my case, I have quite a few things that I'm passionate about. My current job is a stepping stone to my ultimate goals, but I'm enjoying it. My work changes every one to two years, and I move around every three to five years. I get to meet and interact with quite a few different folks, ranging from school children to politicians and celebrities. And, I'll be eligible for retirement at 43, at which point I'll move on to the next phase of my life.

Some mornings are hard to get up on, but I remind myself that while I may not like what I'm doing on a particular day, given a couple of months, things will change. Suits me for now. ^^

I was like you Danny, I did well in class all the time until (for me) the year it was important, influenced to just mess about which resulted me not doing great in my GCSE's, something which I absolutly curse to this day (Im 20 so it's not that far off but still)

As for things that interest me/ is a passion other than Japan (Which im hoping to dedicate myself to once I can find a course near me that would accept me (My university turned me down when I applied for the course last year) ever since I was young I had wanted to work with computers, I spent most of my teenage years with them.

My mum (being the star she is who works at the local council) pulled a few strings and got me a place to do my work experience whilst still in high school at the local IT department at my local council, and apart from the first day where they wouldn't let me do anything (Because they were unsure at that time what the safety specs would allow me to do with me being 15ish at the time) it was by far the best two weeks of my life work/schoolwise.

From then on I dedicated myself to ICT and went and did 3 years studying ICT related things (It coevered a wide spectrum did the course) at college, I finished that last year with all the hopes in the world of finding something in the ICT job front, but alas nothing as of yet jobwise, which is something that has baffled me, I have good qualifications but alot of places want 'experience' in the field which is something I don't have.

So for the time being im sending applications here there and everywhere for any type of office job to help me get a foot on the ladder which would hopefully garner some interest from these ICT Job bosses, which im hoping happens. But Danny I gotta say, that was an incredibly amazing article to read. What I love about you is that you are living the dream, and it gives hope to folks like me.

This is a very inspirational post Danny. At one point in my life I was unsure what I was going to do. Career-wise i was already set, I already knew what career I wanted since I started High School. As of last year, I graduated from college earning my Degree in Networking Security. But after getting out of college I didn't know what to do next for my life. I knew that Anime and Japan were the two things that interest me the most. And as of a month ago, by reading your posts and your accomplishments, I know what to pursue now.

Words of truth Danny!

To those people who have found what they are passionate about but are having obstacles - such as family and friends thinking you've lost your mind, keep pushing, it's life testing you how badly you want it. It's definitely a great feeling when you can't wait for Monday to come.

Yes, I am in the engineering field and I want to be making model kits for Bandai or Tamiya. Both will require that I learn Japanese- so I better get cracking on that. Am happy in the major I am in! I am ahead in a few of my classes.

I don't really know what I want to do. rather I don't know If I can do the things I want to do. Being in my last stages of youth, the first thing I want to do is move to japan as soon as posible.I want to do the things I want to do while im still young. Im just so confused as to what too do, I want to do many things not just one. I come from a very hardworking family that worked it's way up the economy and have now become pretty wealthy, and my family is very art oriented (well my siblings and cousins really). My sister has become a succesfull architech/internal designer and my brother is actually an actor, one of my cousins is a very talented opera singer, and one is majoring in the english language. As you can see im pretty much the differen't one in the family, A stylish otaku who blends in with everyone enough not be seen as an outcast.

Im a real nightlife type of person and love the entertainment insdustry (in Japan anyways) and I really want to be an actor in japan. I watch alot of jdrama and I just love the acting scene. I know that it's one of the hardest thing to do since I think I wont blend in. Actually I know that I wont blend in with my race and skin color, it seems impossible. I also woulden't mind owning a nightclub, or be a profesional drifter ( I also have a heavy love for cars). As you can see Im a person with very big dreams of making it big someday, but Im really just a senior in highschool who is just behind a computer screen. Im worried that I won't be able to live a joyfull life and that all I would have done would have been a waste. Im scared that my future won't turn out what I wan't it to be and end up living a life I don't enjoy.Sometimes im scared that I may be moving too fast or too slow. I already know alot of people who have their eyes set on a carrer, but I just think that my passions are too hard to obtain. My mind is still so mixed up about everyhing I just don't know what to do. I I know that I shoulden't be complaining most of the time and that I should start acting, but its hard. When I look at it its seems very far away like a never ending desert. I already know that im falling behind even though I am still pretty young. It just seems so big and unobtainable it even looks impossible. All I really have is the japanese that i've been studying the past 4 years.

But I still feel this little hope. This energy thats telling me that I can make it. Danny, really I dont know what I would be if I haven't found this site. I consider you to be one of my biggest inpirations in life as alot of us do. I really admire your hard work in life and it just makes me want to go out there and just do everything. Danny, I see you as one of my greatest inspirations, and my one of my greatest rivals :]. Maybe if I do make it one day, I can thank you personaly. I hope.

god danny you can be a very inspiring person sometimes...

no idea what im going to be/do/occupy myself with, but i guess ive trying rite now to expand out, try different stuff to really see what i wanna do with this life of mine.

I came out of Uni with a BA in "Software Systems for the Arts & Media" (mouthful?)
Speaking of passionate subjects, I like Japanese culture, but it drives me nuts not know what mags written. Sure I like to read Japanese, I have trouble understanding some particles in Japanese language. Never learnt Chinese either...

Media, art, Japanese wannabe, I'm pretty much in peril looking for a media based job at the moment. I see a lot of hurdles that I need to jump in order to reach a destination. 2 Man destination in fact. I gotta work hard to get to the top. Thanks for the boost in courage Danny.

I love these posts from you Danny because I find them just as inspirational for me (almost 40) as some of the folks on here that are quite a bit younger :) I got my Comp Sci Bachelors degree and got into IT back in the early 90s. I've been lucky enough to meet some really amazing people and though I may not necessarily like the work I'm doing, the people have been great. Now, I'm looking for the next adventure in my life ... learning something new (Japanese) being active in my hobbys (leading Meet Up groups, etc.). Your posts and the comments of the other folks here help to remind me to not be complacent. Thanks and keep up the great work.

Want to go through all the comments here so will come back later during the day.

Right now, I am mixing god-awful chemicals, and turning them into flavors of some beverage that you, reading this right now, may have already drank or may be drinking at this moment, or have never even tried before, but chances are...

I used to be a Graphic Designer. I have recently started using Photoshop and Illustrator, after a few years away. I don't want to be in production again. Measuring, color-matching...blah. I want to create digital art.

E^D

I am very passionate about two things: video games and everything that makes Japan. I know I want to make games and I've been doing what I could to get an edge of things. As for Japanese, I'm creating a Japanese club because my current university does not offer it. That's my means of networking. Kind of a "if you build it they will come" kind of thing.

I hope once I'm down with school, I can really pursue a career, anything but work full-time. I think I'm afraid to commit to a full-time work all these times and even I might not like the job, I should take it so that I can finally take a step in life.

Gonna try for a field in Bioengineering I guess --_--
though I'm kinda having thoughts about starting my own company ...
ehh focusing on foods & stuff... maybe PC parts too... Supermarket?
lol

Another inspirational post, a great post indeed. This posts of yours makes me rethink of what I really want.
Well, since I was a kid, I want to be an engineer. When I grew up, I realized that I want a specific kind engineering -- computer, software, or electronics engineer, because of my interest in electronics and also in science and math. But lately I'm also thinking if I want to be involved in arts, because I like drawing/sketching(hobby since I was a kid) and I'm interested in some work of visual artists(photoshop, drawing, photography, etc.). In short, I like both math/science and art(visual), and I'm planning to combine these two someday, I just don't know how. And also one of my final goals is to go and live in Japan.^^

My problem is that I have a lot of things I am interested in, but I can't always stay very focused on any one of them. I am currently in college studying game development, and I like it and will probably end up working as a game programmer at least to pay off my student loans and save up a bit of money. But I have other things I want to do, my main ambition after saving some money being to open my own anime/manga/figure store. I really want to be able to travel at some point in my life, and I also want to get better a martial arts and see where that takes me.

I read a lot of the comments, then realized I didn't have time to go through all of 'em. Nice to read about everybody's lives though.

As for me, I'm just starting my second year in University. Deciding to take film has to be one of the most risky decisions I've ever made, and while I don't regret it I do find myself with a bit less passion than I started out with...which is worrisome. It's still something I'm interested in though. I guess we'll see. I want to head back to Asia when I'm done - likely Hong Kong - which means I really have to brush up on my languages. Workin' on that.

Oh, and Danny, I was amused to find that I actually skipped all your pictures first time through. Usually I'd at least be distracted by them. :P

I'm taking some time out to comment on this article. It might be helpful and help ease my mind as well...

I went through the same as Danny. I started college and never really knew what I wanted took business and accounting because it was what friends where doing. I was ok with the subjects but was never really happy with them and didn't do well in the end.

My passion has always been Japan and computers. I never went after those passions. I let others tell me that I could do what I wanted in life. That I need to do what would make money. Being a young naive person I bought into that line of thinking. So now I'm keeping a 20 year old promise to myself to learn Japanese, improve my computer skills and start doing something I love with the time I have left. My hardest part is finding getting the computer aspect to work.

I want to work in web development to help businesses move themselves to the Internet and make the most of it. So of course I looking to improve my web design and development skills but also better understand and learn SEO, database design and implementation, etc... I feel it's important to have an understanding of the business aspect as well as the web design. All too often a business doesn't know how to convey what it wants and the development people don't know enough to understand what a business needs.

Now I find myself wondering if I'm taking the wrong approach. My chosen minor is pushing me in a business direction only and I finding myself looking to the local community college for design and code classes. Yes, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and wondering if I'm try to reach too far and too broad. If anyone has any comments...

For those of you who want to study Japanese and who just started...

Many of you have said you don't have time to take classes so you can't study Japanese. You can learn without classes. Just like any project you need to set long and short term goals. Both students taking and not taking classes need to make sure you study everyday. It is important to study everyday at least two hour in total during the day. You just need to be creative with your study time.

Those of us who are taking Japanese classes study on our own during breaks and summer vacation. Simply because you can't learn everything in classes so it is important to have learning goals outside of class as well.

To learn Japanese you need to be self motivated. All the classes in the world will not help you if you can't set your own goals.

My time is up for now. I need to get back to my reading before I go to bed. Hope all this babble is useful.

Looks like you hit a nerve D, these comments are huge. Good thing we already touched on my situation Danny, so no need to recap here. What I do want to tell you is this: Thanks for reaching out your hand in friendship, and allowing yourself to be surprisingly accessible (even though you are always multitasking ^^;)

Take comfort in knowing that people are heeding your words, and it is taking effect. I am taking the leap, and it is greatly motivated by your encouragement. I view it as a small step leading to greater things ahead. Of what I don't know yet, but I'm optimistic it is the right way to go. But boy, I sure will miss some of the monies for the time being. Oh sweet, glorious monies. Thanks buddy.

Well, since High School I knew I wanted to work in the computer field but more specifically programming and in the video game field. So I went to Cegep and got a "technique informatique". I'm sorry but not really sure what it should translate to, maybe computer science. Now, I've just entered university in software engineering and also just started taking class in Japanese. Now that make 2 thing I wanted going well. If my Japanese class goes well, I might get to go and work/live in Japan, at worst, there's plenty of work for software engineer in the video game industry in Montreal. :)

I am in the unfortunate position of not knowing what I will do (and already more than 20 years old) and I've always been an air head (which doesn't help things one bit). I chose to major in Art, but even though I like drawing anime style, I'm not very good at it. I've been thinking of learning more languages and try to be a sort of translator, but right now that's in the air.

I guess it takes some time for some people, but I get very pressured by my parents to graduate and I'm not sure I'm liking what I'm doing right now.

wow another post in which i forgot to see the pics and had to scroll all the way to the top again to have a look at them. to all who are still searching for the ideal job - gambatte. I wish you people all the best of luck. regarding myself i've just completed about 10 yrs of webdesign with some years in print work too, so almost at the peak of my career. Might change my profession since i'm not too keen on spending the rest of my life in this career since its becomes stagnant after some time. thinking of going into professional photography. i have a natural tendency for cameras and the field is vast enough to get work.

ps Danny - the post percentage always shows 101%.

I'm going to be applying to various universities in the coming months, but sadly, I'm not even 100% sure what to major in. I love science, especially biology, but I don't know if I like it *enough*. My biggest fear is that I'll end up wasting years before I realize I'm going down the wrong path. ;_;
I figured out awhile ago I love art a whole lot. but I haven't really dedicated much time to truly developing skills related to the field. Sometimes I think I should just run off to art school, but since I focused so much on math and sciences over the years, I would pretty much be starting at point 0. baaaawwwww.

I still don't know what to do after getting out of college...just trying to work right now to pay off loans and hopefully some where down the road I'll find my calling...

Once again, a wonderful and inspirational post from you, Danny. We really appreciate your efforts and motivational words.
As a child, I always found myself switching between many, different career choices and once I reached high school, it calmed down. I’ve always been interested in philosophy, military, psychiatry, cultures, languages, music, art, games and computers. I found myself choosing between those subjects and could never settle on one. After attending a seminar on Graphic Design, Web Design & Illustration, I decided that I wanted to spend my time working as a Designer/Illustrator. I've worked as an Accountant and receptionist for almost 2 years now and (hopefully), I'll start studying at the end of this month. I've chosen 'Visual Arts' and I'm majoring in Graphic Design and then Illustration. I have many passions that haven't left me, such as programming, languages, philosophy, military, psychiatry, cultures and music but, I have chosen to slowly teach myself along the way, managing my soon-to-be student life with other skills that I may be able to learn.
I can see myself designing packaging for figurines and the like, illustrating for games, stories and my own manga.
I have an idea as to where I'd like to be but, I've only been teaching myself software, languages, coding and art for the past 2 years and I don't think I can say anything about my future until I start studying in the field of my choice.
Working for the last 2 years has taught me a lot as I've had a bit of Design work and it is an interesting experience, there are heavy deadlines but, I've found that it can be fun to work with a bit of pressure once you get used to it XD
I’m not sure if this approach is very guided… do I seem to be ready?
I feel passionate about it but, I guess we can’t say until I start my course.
Like everyone else, I see myself settling in the East but, If I am able to work in Japan… it would be very fulfilling.

I think Gatchaman (G-Force) got me hooked on Japanese culture from an early age as well.

Visiting Japan is a good thing to do as well. In fact, so good that I'm going again this year!!!

Thanks for the nice article. I already know what field of work I want to be employed at but currently I'm still studying for my Master's degree.

On a long term basis, I would like to become an academic that studies Japan. But to pursue that and resume my doctorate or masters, I would have to master my Japanese first.

So in the meantime, I'm enjoying my work as a policy officer (brings in good $_$) while juggling between my night classes for Japanese language, blogging, gaming, and sleeping ...

Quite long ago I discovered that I absolutely love making my opinions known to the world, and I love sharing the way I see my life to everybody else around me, being the 'arrogant' person I am (it actually stems from my admiration of the fact that everybody views the world uniquely; I am no different). While currently studying, I pursue this interest by writing and blogging. That's why I wish to be a writer. My other plans were movie producing, teaching (English in Japan), (selling watermelons in Japan and getting rich quick), and most recently developing games (because I like to play them so much). My ambition is to be able to do them all, not necessarily consecutively, but at least before my life ends.

Sometimes the thing you least expect to love becomes something you find happiness in. Despite all the demand in the field & the advice from people in my life, I've always refused to be a teacher. I never thought I'd like it. I was always grumpy about being around kids & didn't have much patience in trying to make people understand stuff. When I came to Japan after a useless psychology degree, I surely didn't come here because I wanted to teach..I wanted to see Japan. Although teaching in a language school is different than schools back home, it really opened my eyes to the teaching field. I now know what I want to do :) I'll be heading back home to Canada in a few months and hopefully get into a teacher's college.

Very good article Danny, right now I'm quite busy but when I will have some free time I writte few words about my occupation.

Hey Danny,

I'm sure you're not going to read this since everyone else has written so much. I live in a county in Virginia called Stafford. It's not small but it's definitly not big. Let's call it "spread out". The job economy sucks, but the county is very rich. The only real jobs available out of high school is $7/hr in retail or fast food. I'm 21 years old and I have no college under my belt simply for the fact that I am not really passionate about anything. I have no money to go to college to find out what I'm passionate about and have no money to go out exploring even somewhere else in the USA. I'm stuck in my house and have been unemployed for more than 7 months. I fear that this is my life forever. I feel as though it will never change. I would love to live somewhere such as Hawaii or something but that's just a dream where I will have to become wealthy enough to live there because of how expensive it is to live there. So basically I'm a 21 year old who's been out of high school for 3 years and doesn't do anything who has a mild interest in video games and that's about it. My parents were never married and my father makes $900/hr as a lawyer but he refuses to call me or make any time for me at all. My mother has to struggle with $3000/month to have nice things for herself. So I'm pretty much screwed out of college. I am constantly deeply depressed about all of this and can't seem to find a solution.

I originally planned on being a doctor, but my physics and math grades weren't so good :), so now I'm taking CAPE examinations(called A levels in England if I'm correct)-Sociology, Biology and Law...Hopefully these subjects will take me somewhere , since i don't know wth i'm gonna do next...and maybe when i'm dome with examinations I can finally start learning Japanese...really good article Danny, it's nice to know that i'm not alone in my quest for 'Destiny'...

I think my only aspiration in live is have fun, so as long I can work in a job well paid, that allows me enjoy on my time, in happy. You can think I`m a selfish person, well, maybe you right, but this is the way I live life, living the moment, future is unknow, so the day I die can`t have any regrets...

I know that I want to be a Video Game Designer. I am going to university to study a relevant course, and the industry placement in the thirdyear should hopefully help me get my "foot in the door". So I like to think i'm sorted, well, atleast in terms of knowing what I want to do.

Also, awesome photos Danny! Next time i'm in Japan, i might go out in the evening for a "photo walk". Which, on an awesome note, I have now booked my next trip to Japan! I am going next year in April (7th - 16th). Sohopefully, i'll be able to meet up with you this time Danny :D

somebody have watched the Steve Jobs's speech at Stanford University :D

I have my occupation set out, I will be a Computer Scientist in about a year. Once get some experience, there is bound to be a Japanese company that will hire me right?

Through High school and College I had no idea what I wanted to get myself into in the future. I've loved video games for years but I never really thought that anything until I was in the second year of College. I've always swayed towards design and art when choosing my subjects, which thinking now I think is influenced by my brother.
Even though I'm the most uncreative person ever I'm taking a Games Design course at Uni starting in 2 weeks. Over the holidays I've been having big doubts as to whether I really want to do this. I've gone off playing games as much as I did before this holiday. I think this is gonna be 4 years with no job at the end, but then I read the odd snippet about the course which makes me glad I'm taking the course. Plus I want to learn Japanese on the side aswell as this main course which, with timetable permitting, I can do. Which would be awesome!

ya i know wat occupation i want to be in. i want 2 one day own a bunch of restaurants. i know ill be executive chef at 1 of them. at first ill obviously only have 1, but as the years go on ill make more. i know ill be happy since i love cooking. cooking is somehting i love 2 do, its my fav thing 2 do, next 2 playing video games but i dont want 2 go into that.

Interesting read like always, you're very keep on this subject eh danny. I understand the whole follow your desire and do something that will create a sense of fulfillment in your life spiel. My views are a bit more cynical, and I really say its two-fold. Yes doing something in with your life that will bring a sense of personal achievement is great. However, I'm pretty sure those who have slaved at work and manage to make a fortune can also feel a sense of great achievement.
I'm not going to explain my views in full detail, but I'll just say that money does play a large part in your overall quality of life, not to mention basic needs.
Danny, you've seem to have found the balance between work and reward, kudos to you on that regard.

As for me, I see my 'future' job for the most part pretty interesting and exciting. However the path to there is really boring...

Danny! your night shots are totally awesome! would love to know what your average camera setting is to capture such clear photos.

Still a student, though I've been doing part-time work here and there for one of the libraries on campus. A few years ago I was very passionate about microbial biology research because a loved family member had passed away from cancer--happened just a few months before I started college. Due to various compounding factors, I've gone through highs and lows and now have resigned myself to a focus that has more to do with the environment rather than medical research. Will probably aim for a graduate school program or try to get a job in state or federal government after I finish my undergrad.

Also got involved with some artsy hobbies, but I've jumped from pottery to jewelery to sculpting to painting as my interest pooled out of each without really learning much.

I never really did what i wanted to do, just bummed about doing it, which is game testing. I always wanted to be a game tester but always ended doing something else. I'm currently a system administrator and account/project manager in Cape Town. I love what i'm doing but i guess i'm a classic case of 'i still wanna do something else.., sometime.., eventually..'... I told my wife, i want to built my own go-kart track. It wont happen soon because we have a few other plans and joint plans supercedes personal little plans but i will do it because that's something i wanna do when i'm settled and chilled out... until then, i'll just keep moving...

Quite an inspirational post Danny. Thruth to be said, it was only very recently that i realized what i really want to be and why. Unfortunately in the meantime, i wasted three entire years of College, not because i don't like the course (i love Computer Science, i don't imagine myself doing anything else) but because i wasn't very sure about what to do. Because of that insecurity, i flunked for the first time in my life, and to make things worse, it happened three years in a row.
The funny thing about all this is that i never really did any wrong choice in order to follow the path i desired a few years ago, i got into the right College and the right course, but the mindset was the complete opposite to my usual way of thinking, i dreaded my previous choices and thought that maybe i was wrong in thinking that it was possible to chase a dream that accompanies me since i got into computers.
Thankfully, i had the help of some awesome people and realized that i really want to make that dream come true, after all, i'm here today because i want to become a Game Designer. And in 5 years, maybe i will be one, if not, it was worth trying.

To Danny Choo
I finally get to know that you are the son of the famous shoemaker from Malaysia now residing in UK named Jimmy Choo right? It is indeed a surprise to know that you as his son is venturing into Japanese culture and lives as a Japanese, which is totally different from his career. Nevertheless, you have proven yourself to be able to pursue your dreams in Japan, just as your father who succeeded as a famous shoemaker worldwide. You are truly an inspiration to my dream to experience the Japanese culture ^^
(sounds a bit weird, aren't they)

i am pretty late coming to this post, school has been horrible.

i am one of those readers danny mentioned who has no idea what to do in life. So much so that i ended up in engineering, a course which i was quite apprehensive of. The worst thing is, i rejected an merit award from another university in singapore, due to it's business like environment. a decision which has irked my parents and drew reprimand from friends.
While i am doing alright in my current course, i find myself questioning my choice and the state of things as it stands.

i am in complete agreement with the advice danny has offered with regards to taking the initiative to change your life. For example, i have recently joined my university japanese studies society in an attempt to learn more about well japanese culture. Having attended several meetings and gatherings, I realised I do not belong in a group comprising of a bunch of narcissists who raves about jpop and whathaveyou. While i still do intend to venture into japanese culture, this is not the group I would want to hanging around with. I am glad for having realised this sooner. If i hadn't signed up for this in the first place, I would still be contemplating about trying to fit into that group.

A little late on this too. I'm also of the opinion that a what you choose to do shouldn't just be a "job." You'll never be happy if you just pick some "job," and don't even have any interest in it. That being said....
I've worked retail, which was horrible. I worked at a comic book store and I've worked at GameStop. I'm actually really great with customers, but as an employee I'm awful. I wouldn't push things onto people, and I'm way too honest to try to trick people into things that they don't want or don't need. Everything about the world of retail makes me sick. I also worked at a litigation company that made copies, scans, files, etc of cases for law firms. I was way over qualified. All I did was sit around and push some paper into a scanner, and quality check other people's work. It was horrifically boring. And I was smarter than...just about everyone else there. I got to the point where I simply couldn't concentrate anymore (and they took away our right to listen to music, which was all that was keeping me awake and helped me concentrate), and I would nod off, or became dazed, and make mistakes. I corrected them, but that slows me down, of course. I was actually really good at the job; one of their best employees. But it was so boring.

I have a BFA in Theatre Arts with an English minor. When I graduated college, I was all geared up to go to uni for Musical Theatre; thought I'd move to New York and act on Broadway. Then I got to uni, and this HUGE world suddenly opened up (I was from a really small town), and I suddenly realized that while I was one of the best back home, I was only mediocre here. And I also found out that I'm not that good of an actress. Also, I couldn't pass music theory, which is why I switched my major.
So now I'm just sort of lost. I love singing; it makes me really happy, and without any outlet for that, I'm generally depressed. I'm also not sure if I'm really any good. I love writing, and I'd really like to venture into that (if I'm any good), but I'm not sure how to go about it. I know I'd be terrible in a 9-5 office job. My previous experience in a corporate office environment convinced me of that. Plus I can't handle monotony for very long. I need something engaging, something that uses my skills, something that deals with things I like. I'm just not sure what that is.

I'm pretty indifferent about my current work. My coworkers are nice, which helps a lot. The only way I could truly be happy with a job is if it was something to do with the arts, like music (composition), but that's a very tough nut to crack, and believe me, I'm trying. Maybe one day, but not yet I guess. By the way, thanks for the pics, I love images of Japan at night. :)

I move around too damn much in order to really set foot on an occupation. Out of the 4 destinations I could be at, I have somewhat a plan. If I go to Taiwan with my girlfriend, I will teach English there. California, which I am too poor to stay in at, will find some kind of government job. I would like to do a government job in North Carolina and Arkansas, but those are few and far between. Regardless, I want a job that allows me to serve the public and gives my country a good name (and to leave it and other places better than how I found it).

what is the meaning of life? do the scholars know the answer or i guess we have individual answer

I have known since about year 9/10(age 14-15) that I wanted to work in the game industry. Before then I've known I've wanted to work in the graphic design industry in some way, shape or form. Illustrating, cartooning, advertising, whatever lets me vent creatively.

Before I was 10 I wanted to be a vet, or work with animals in some way, but science was NOT fun in the slightest. And I'd always had a talent for drawing/art, runs in the family on my dads side lol. My mums not bad either.

I want to draw manga, I want to be a voice actor, and I want to start my own anime company!!!

I am real passionate about manga, anime, light novels, figures, cosplay, and games, I'm a super OTAKU!!!!

I love this post paired with the beautiful images of Ueno. I believe I know what I want to be -- someone who can use English to teach and solve problems. Whether this means teaching as a second language or working for Interpol as a translator...l haven't figured that out yet.

atm, I have to choose what I want to do for my future career. I am in my last year of secondary school and I need to choose my degree at Uni. It is so hard to make such a big decision that will affect the rest of my life.

I know what I want to be when am finish my studying in the University as a game maker in a Japanese company but the problem that in my country dont have that much support for what i love i mean i played games all my life and its the best thing i do in my life , but am not moving or have the motivation to work hard for it so wish me luck to make my dream came true.

I'm a sort of computer science student learning programming and such. I've always loved anime (and cartoons), manga, video games and drawing but somehow ended up studying European Studies first, then shifting to Informatics (sort of computer science) when I moved to Canada. Although I don't love what I do right now, its not that bad since I get to do web programming and design which I also like doing. In the end, I hope I can combine my love for creativity and artistry with the technical skills I have learned/will learn.

...And as long as I have time for my hobbies and stuff, I think I'll be fine ^_^

Well I'm not exactly satisfied with my life but I'm exploring things I have interest in...
I'm currently looking towards grafics and designdrawing, always had a thing for photo editing like cleaningfixing old photos and photo montage (wich I work as a part-time job).
2 or 3 years ago I also started learning Unreal Engine Game Technology, did some maps for Unreal Tournament 2004 and now Unreal Tournament 3, I'm learning day by day and who knows might get enough knowledge someday to work on a game company.
I also learned computer assembly and maintenanceat school wich helped me get a job at a computer store (wich I'm happy with it) but I want something bigger in life just not sure yet, thus I'm exploring new stuff here and there and see what pulls me more.

Don't be afraid of trying new stuff, visiting new places and making new friends...
Make the jump, don't let other people get between your goals in life...
This is what I think.

By the way Danny you really got a good thing going here, its not just japan stuff but people interacting together and sharing their ideas.

Hi Dannychoo, I'm new to your site but have been hearing alot about you in recent days especially. Your humor and articles are entertaining and I hope to be around for a while.

As far as where I am in life. I am currently a US Navy IT assigned to a ship stationed in Yokosuka. For a while,I shifted around from medicine, to computers, and to accounting. Nothing really fit. I had an associates degree but was out of money and had no idea what I wanted to do. I decided to join the Navy. At the time, Japan was not on my mind, but out of A-school it was somewhere I really wanted to be.

Do I enjoy the Navy. Its not bad, but you give up alot of your freedom you once had to protect the freedoms of others. It feels at times like a time machine in which the world rapidly goes by and you grow older but with not much personal growth. So when you go back to your hometown, you see all the people you knew established with jobs or kids and your still the same person you were when you joined.

When I get out, I will have a large amount of money to be spent on college. Hopefully by then I'll have an idea of what I want to do.

I always love you inspirational post danny... it really give us the reader a boost in our life and inspired us to how to say... move on and do our best... even without the inspirational post your success story itself is a very inspiring story for all of us... i'm personnally really admire your spirit, to chase your dream, to do something that really enjoyed and at the same time make a living out of it... whenever i saw your pictures there's always that spirit... the passion inside it... that make those pictures more than a pictures it became an inspiration for all of us... and i'm it came from your passion...

for me i havent found my passion yet... when i was small i always want to become an engineer but didnt make it (i hate siences especially things related with numbers with a vengeance eg. Math) during my highschool i wanted to work in video games industry but it didnt work out that well either... in the end i got myself in business degree management to be precise... and still it's not my passion but i also found some interesting during this time that i thought i enjoyed doing and would like to perform... then i graduated and tried to find a job with no avail... currently i'm doing my postgrad in Human Resource Management and i'm starting to learn things that i really like to do and enjoyed doing it... and i do hope i could find what my passion is...

i would like to say finding what are you passionate about is not an easy task... sometimes what you think your passion is not your passion at all... it take time and it might be a long journey for some of us... some of us might be lucky to find that passion early in their life and able to pursue what they really passionate about... what ever happened never give up... never give in... pursue whatever things that you like to do and it might be your passion... be confident in yourself.... work hard for those dream and passion.... and dont be afraid to fail, there are saying that failure is a delayed success.... learn from your failure, stand up and move forward... i pray that every single one of us would find what is our passion....

dominion.... out....

I am a programmer and I love my job. I think it is great, when the work is rewarding.
I also want to go to Japan, but not for work.

Japan at night is the best! I love all that shining places and wouldn't even mind all the ads ^^

I use to work in Ueno. It's really a nice place. :)

I realize probably no one is going to care about this comment, or even read it for that matter, but I'm going to share it anyway.

I am a student at film school right now. If all goes as planned I will be graduating with a BA in Fine Arts in two years. For my specialization I have chosen cinematography, for those that don't know what a cinematographer (or Director of Photography) does, he is basically the one who sets up the lighting setup for a shot, more important than a lot of you would think. After I finish my Bachelor's degree I want to start working in my home country, The Netherlands. In an ideal situation, I would end up working there and making a living doing so, and I will definitely try as best as I can to make this happen.

pheew..
after reading the post and some of comment i'm just speechless...
i'm glad for people who have found their passion and for those who still can't(just like me)
let's keep searching!^^
thx for the great post danny!

I want to be an astrophysicist/engineering physicist and I also like to write. I plan on finishing my english degree [even though I find it a waste of time but I'm only finishing it because I have one semester left]

I plan on working in the same field as you Danny, that's what I'm aiming for.