14 Feb 2006, 02:18
#17978
Here is a translation of Kame's article from Myôjo March 2006 (credits to Ricci)
[Talking about studying]
When I hear exam, I remember my third year in middle school. [AN: Which is the time when a lot of middle schoolers have to prepare for the difficult highschool entrance exams.] In order to be able to go to highschool, I took a month of vacation from work and studied. A family teacher came to my house, and I studied everyday for eight hours. I often wished I could go out to play with my friends or sleep, but then I kept thinking of the things after passing the exam and kept doing my best. When I still thought studying was too hard, I changed the place for studying from my home to the library, went for walks through the neighbourhood and changed my mood. I thought of my studying method by myself. I like thinking of ways how to approach something on my own, more than someone telling me "You need to do it like this.", and this is true not only for studying but really for everything. That's because more than looking at some written instructions from beginning to end, I enjoy looking at the basics only and figuring the rest out by myself, and I think I master things that way.
[One should be superstitious]
I think there are a lot of people who are so nervous on the day of exams and tests that they can't give 100%. For me, that's also the topic of my life. *laughs* For "Dream Boys", from when the training hadn't even started, I already couldn't sleep anymore. At a time like that, you can't simply switch over and be relaxed, can you? That's why I try to think of other, more enjoyable things to escape the stress. Sometimes this way of escaping reality is really necessary, I think. When there is a concert, I put on the ring I decided on beforehand, during the period of appearing on stage I stretch every morning... I treasure such superstitions. [AN: Superstition may not be a good translation for this, but I can't come up with a better one. Basically he means that you should create (and repeat) situations which act like a kind of framework for your mind, thus helping you to calm down. See following sentence!]
If you believe in them, they lend strength to your heart and let you have confidence in yourself, so you may be able to put in even more strength than usual.
[Everything is experience!]
I entered this world [of entertainment business] when I was in the second class of middle school, and from then on the number of things I want to do has gradually increased. That's why from the perspective of people who still haven't been able to find a goal in life and worry about that, I think I am truly blessed. But if you go through life with interest and an open mind, your possibilities will increase endlessly. Therefore I think that even people who don't have anything specific they want to do right now will definitely find something if they only open their mind. I want them to shed their preconceptions and not only judge things on the background of what they already know, I want them to experience a lot of different things. If you do that, you will be able to come to like something which you were not at all interested in before. People shine the most when they do something that they like. I'd like it if everyone of us can become someone like that.
And here's a translation of Jin's article from Myôjo March 2006 (credits to Ricci)
[I'll do an introduction!]
I don't remember exams very well. I have the feeling that I probably, like usual, was out having fun during the time of highschool entrance exams. Mostly, asking me is a mistake. [AN: I'm really not sure about this sentence! He says ‚¾‚¢‚½‚¢A‰´‚É•·‚‚Ì‚ªŠÔˆá‚¢‚¾‚Á‚ÄBHe might mean that asking him about entrance exams is kind of pointless.] I hated studying for school. If you tell me that everyone hates studying, well, to that extent... even if I can tell you of my own experiences, I can't give any advice to people who are worrying about what to do. The way of progress, how one should go about something - aren't everyone's circumstances and situations different? If you understand that, I'll talk as much as you like.
[Should one go to school?]
If you hate studying, what's the point in going to school, that's what I think. It's just a waste of time and money. If you have found something that you want to do, isn't it better to go your own way to achieve it? That's basically what I think. Ah, but, even if there is something you'd really like to do, it's difficult to achieve it, even more if you don't have a strong sense of responsibility and will. And even if your will is strong, your parents might be against it, the circumstances might not allow for your own way of thinking, because everyone is different. I can't really say something like "You should do it like this!"... By the way, my own parents understood my hate for studying, and because I wasn't really the fussy type I was able to concentrate on my job more than on studying.
[Study from your own intention]
Me, I have the feeling that until now I learned more from experiences in my job than from school. Social studies? I think because of that I exist like I am now. Besides, even though I hated studying, if I think that I want to learn something, I really get into the mood for it... For example, English. At first I just thought it would be cool if I could speak it, but then I made an English-speaking friend and I came to want to speak it even more... I'm making progress by my own and study. In the end, if you don't possess this sense of curiosity, that you want to do something, if it isn't fun to do, you may not be able to learn it no matter how much you study. In that sense, so that studying will be fun for everyone who is studying for entrance exams right now, I'll cheer you on by singing NEWS' "Kibou~Yell~" for you. Hooray Hooray~!