My Impressions of Kasugaoka (Advanced English Summer Homework)

My first impression of Kasugaoka High School is "wonderful". Last year, I went to the school information session of Kasugaoka with my friends. I was surprised to see that the student's clothes. They wore training suits or clothes which looked like school uniforms. In other words, there isn't any school uniform in Kasugaoka. The students were lively and looked excited. One of my friends said, "This is not what I expected..." In contrast, I thought "This is the best school! I want to attend this school no matter what it takes!

However, there was a serious problem. The people who take the entrance exam of Kasugaoka are very intelligent. I didn't have confidence that I could pass because I was lacking in academic ability. However, I continued to do my best. For example, I attended tutoring school from July 2015 to March 2016 and studied hard every day. When I took the entrance exam, I thought positively such as "I can do it!" I was afraid to check my answers after the entrance exam. When I passed it, I have never been happier.

On the first day that I went to Kasugaoka, the orientation for new students was held by the second year students. I was surprised at their energy. Also, I was very nervous because there were strangers all over the place. However the second year students spoke to me and taught me the folk dance. Thanks to them, I was able to relax and was able to dance well. I had a good time so I talked about it with my family.

I had two worries. First, I am not good at talking with people until I get along with them. In addition, I was sad because my friend and I couldn't go to high school together so I didn't open my mind. Nevertheless, all of my classmates were very friendly and spoke to me kindly. I as able to get along with them quickly thanks to this. Second, high schools are very different to junior high schools. Sure enough, there is more homework at high school. Also, although the teachers at Kasugaoka teach me many things which I didn't know, and I can understand the classes easily, the tests are very hard.

On May 12th 2016, the first-year students went to Green Echo on the school trip. First we made curry in small groups. I thought that my group's curry was the most delicious. After eating curry, we ran a relay. Everyone in the class ran so fast and I was impressed. On the bus, we played bingo and did an intro quiz. This was a great memory.

My best memory in Kasugaoka is the class match on July 12th. I didn't feel like playing dodgeball and basketball because I am not good at playing sports. However, when I try to play them, it was a lot of fun! I thought that I should have played sports since I was a child. My classmates really supported each other and got excited. Moreover, we took second place! I am looking forward to the next class match now.

I really feel that I'm glad to attend Kasugaoka High School. I have a lot of great experiences during only 4 months. Of course, there are some difficulties such as my weak subjects, homework, and tests. Kasugaoka's teachers give us a lot of homework and make very difficult tests and say "these are very easy!" I'm scared of Kasugaoka's teachers... In contrast, there are many fun events. I can't wait for the school festival in September and the school excursion to Okinawa next year. I hope that my school life becomes the best memory for me.

1-6 K.W. (71st Class)


My Impressions of Kasugaoka (Advanced English Summer Homework)

In November of the last year, I attended a briefing session and decided to enter Kasugaoka high school. When I took the entrance examination in March, I thought I would fail it but my number was displayed on the bulletin board. That was the best event I have ever experienced. I thought that Kasugaoka is a high level school so I will be able to spend fruitful days. On the other hand, I am shy so I was worried about whether I could make friends.

The entrance ceremony was very tense. I only remember that the talk of the principal was long. I knew that everybody was tense when I went into the classroom because it was very quiet. Our new school was full of hopes and fears.

My best memory of the first semester is to have gone to Hyogo on an excursion. When we reached Green Echo, we began to cook curry and rice in nature using wood and fire. However, I was not able to join in the making of curry very much because the smoke of the firewood got in my eyes but I could help to start the fire with a round fan. The rice did not get burnt so it was delicious. I think that the curry of our group was the best. After lunch, we took a group photograph and ran a relay. It was hot, but it was very fun to hand a baton to everybody and I forgot the hotness and was absorbed after our meal. Everybody was serious. The attitude to work seriously in everything showed the pride of Kasugaoka.

I was very tense before the first tests. I studied hard not to become last because there are many excellent students at Kasugaoka. I am not good at math or biology, but was good at English. The test was tense, but I was able to take it calmly. Surprisingly, the mark of the test was very good. Math exceeded 70 points. The average of all subjects was more than 80 points and I got the second place in class. I was satisfied with this result. I thought that my ranking might slip if I cannot keep my concentration and decided to do my best for the end of semester test.

In June, I injured my little toe of the left foot in a kendo match. My foot hit the foot of my partner, and my leg slipped. Though it was the first game, I could not participate after all, and only regret and disappointment remained. I wrote a report without taking part in physical education because I was not able to bear the vibration. It was very hard thing for me.

I enjoyed my school life in the first semester because I was able to get to know many people. I think that more relations should be deepened with them in the second semester. Therefore, it is important for me to give all energy to sports day and the school festival. I want to deepen my bonds in my class through many events.

1-6 K. H. (71st Class)


About Education for Sustainable Development: A UNESCO School's Project

As a member of a program on ESD: Education for Sustainable Development, developed by UNESCO to improve students' interest in social issues, I went to a area devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. During my visit, a local man talked to me about the serious shortage of hands to help with recovery and said 'It's still difficult for us to live like before. Please keep it in mind'. What I realized was problems difficult to comprehend from outside the area. What is 'true recovery'? What is 'sustainable development'? I started to read 'The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development', by United Nations (2015),to look for the answer and came to know that all goals are based on a spirit of 'no one should be left behind'. I think respecting all people is the most important thing for our generation to create a sustainable society from now on.

I'm sure that we, the youth, can be the creators of a sustainable society. I took part in the Asian Youth Conference last year. At that time, international relations between Japan and Asian countries couldn't be worse so, honestly speaking, I was afraid to participate in it. However, I met other Asian people whom I came to respect there. We talked about our future dreams and discussed education. One of the Koreans said me 'You don't have to feel sorry about the history between our nations. I just want Japanese people to know it' .I felt I was accepted as their friend. It's meaningful that youth with different views of value talk together, understand, and accept differences of background. Also, I believe that Japanese youths can tell myriad things to the world's youths. What I learned in the disaster area is that youths are working on recovery; submitting opinions to administration and creating a monument to hand down the tsunami experience story to the next generation. I think this kind of project can be a model for recovery from not only earthquakes but also wars around the world.

It will be a significant step to create a sustainable society where youth have their own dreams. A friend of mine who participated in the Asian Youth Conference said this. ' Some people might think I'm just an ordinary student who isn't so special. However, the reason I can still believe in myself and work hard is that I have a dream.' I was moved by her words. Having dreams will make us believe each of us is necessary to this world and believing so will lead us to respect others. I found my dream though ESD. My dream is to be a journalist to tell about the world issues and the voices of people who are suffering hardship or working to solve the problems. I want many people to think about world issues immediately and upon them. Now, as a high school student, I'm trying to tell people around me what I learned through ESD. I made a speech at a competition. I served as a panellist at a symposium. I feel so happy when people who listened to my experiences become interested in ESD. Through these activities, I'm also impressed by other people's ideas.

I could gain an interest in world issues and develop my own ideas about them. I found my dream through ESD. Contemplating ESD will make a big difference in your life and you will make a small difference in this world. Thank you.

by Aiko Saika (70th Class)