their will, desire, and passion, along with this ingrained conception of perfection are able to achieve some
of the greatest goals ever seen, not only in Japan’s history but the entire world’s. As my knowledge of the
language grew, I was able to understand more deeply the stories of these people and began to see how I
could bring these stories into my own life and use them as tools in achieving what I had lost. In one
particular episode, I remember watching a man who was struck with a terrible sickness. I watched as he
went through experiences similar to my own, but throughout his ordeal had somehow been able to keep site
of his goals, which were to regain his health and status thus making his focus, and resolve even stronger. I
began to realize that it was in this, where a special characteristic of the people of Japan existed. For a long
period in my life I was not able to do what not only this man, but the groups of men and women I was
watching each week were able to do. Regardless of the amount of hardships or setbacks they had, they used
what life had given them to propel them forward, not hold them down. This side of the culture I feel is also
related to the history of the country itself. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the country which had once
been on the verge of complete supremacy and domination had been diminished to a mere trace of its former
form. It had seen a tremendous rise to power and fame and then a sudden loss of everything it had
accomplished all within a relatively short span of time. The impact that Japan had felt, as a nation was
undoubtedly a tremendous one, and maybe on a smaller scale within my own life resembled my own
feelings of devastation. However, through my relationship with the history of Japan and the perspective
from which I was experiencing it, there came something that had not come along before, a desire and hope
to continue in my life and finally on some level become free of what had been holding me back. I had
imagined that Japan, its people, and the people that were given the responsibility of rebuilding it might
have felt this way also.

Just as Japan had done, I found the strength to bury what had happened to me in the past and once
again continue on a course toward my goals as a musician. As I began the impossible climb, paths appeared
before me that were once covered in complete darkness and doubt. I began to remake myself with a new
outlook, and have been fortunate enough to be accepted into a professional trumpet studio once again, sit
and play in orchestras being surrounded with the beauty of the music I once loved, and graduate with my
degree in music. I hope that we all will be able to see these aspects of Japan, and if ever need be apply them
to our own lives on whatever level necessary. They are indeed beautiful, and I am ever grateful for my
relationship with them.

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