[From 49-Year-Old Novice to Marine Technician] Three Reasons Why I, Aiming for the '4th Grade Marine Technician' License at Kyushu Maritime Academy, Am Making a Vow Based on My Failure at Shimizu Maritime College
Tuesday, April 14th
It is my fourth day since enrolling at the Kyushu Maritime Academy.
My days are filled from morning until evening with lectures aimed at obtaining the 6th Grade Internal Combustion Engine license.
At 49, I am at the threshold of what society calls the 'senior generation'.
To be honest, the new terminology and complex engine mechanisms are a constant struggle, even with my brain working at full capacity to keep up.
However, I do not intend to let this limited and precious 4.5-month period end with just 'obtaining the 6th grade license'.
I have now decided to simultaneously seize the opportunity to pass the written exam for the '4th Grade Marine Technician' license.
A 49-Year-Old's Challenge: Making the 4.5 Months at Kyushu Maritime Academy the Ultimate Turning Point
'Why are you in such a hurry?'
That might be how it looks to those around me.
Certainly, the 6th Grade Internal Combustion Engine qualification is a national certificate with significant value on its own.
It is a ticket to make a living in the maritime world.
Even so, the reason I am using my brain until it is exhausted every day and pushing myself is because I have a strong desire to make these 4.5 months the biggest 'turning point' of my life.
A stoic life of just going back and forth between the dormitory and the classroom. But for me right now, this 'environment where I can immerse myself solely in study' is a luxury that cannot be replaced by anything else.
Why Aim for '4th Grade'? The Three Ambitions I Have Set
There are three clear reasons why I decided to take on the challenge of the 4th grade, which some might consider reckless.
1. Turning Frustration into Strength: Revenge and Closure with Shimizu Maritime College
The first is revenge against myself.
In January of this year, I took the entrance exam for the National Shimizu Maritime Technical College.
It was a path where I could study carefully for two years and obtain the 4th Grade Marine Technician license upon graduation.
However, the result was a clear failure.
I originally wanted to absorb as much as possible at that school. Because that dream did not come true, I want to find closure for the regret that remains within me by passing the 4th grade written exam on my own.
To prove that I am who I am today precisely because of that setback.
2. A Realistic Choice: Financial Independence for the Senior Generation Through the 'Sea'
The second is a realistic strategy to support my future life.
If I try to look for a job on land at the age of 49, I will face the harsh reality that it is difficult without special skills.
Even if I could find re-employment, it is not uncommon to have to settle for poor working conditions.
However, the world of ships is different.
If you live on the sea and devote yourself to your work, there is a structure that allows you to save more money than working on land.
Earning a solid income in the medium term and building a financial foundation. For me, in the senior generation, this is a very urgent and positive survival strategy.
3. Life is Only Once: Challenging the 'Heights' of Ocean-Going Vessels
And the third is pure curiosity and a spirit of adventure.
The handicap of my age and the barrier of qualifications.
I understand how steep the path to ocean-going vessels is.
Even so, you only live once.
If I am going to take on a challenge, I want to aim for the very top.
I imagine myself one day standing on the deck of an ocean-going vessel crossing the world's seas.
It is okay to have such an 'ambition'.
I gave myself permission to do so.
A New Battle Begins Today: Days Walking with the 4th Grade Problem Set
Today, the 4th grade problem set I ordered online arrived at my lodging.
Its heavy weight feels like the weight of the responsibility and hope I will carry from now on.
From now on, I will face this book as much as time allows.
So that when I leave the Kyushu Maritime Academy in 4.5 months, I can graduate with a smile, knowing I gave it my all.
And I will not neglect self-improvement to secure the best job possible during my enrollment.
A fresh start at 49; this is where the real challenge begins.
[In Place of a Conclusion]
I sincerely thank you for reading this far.
This is not a story about 'someone perfect,' but a real-time record of one person repeating trial and error.
By reading from the first episode in order, you might feel a 'weight as a story' that goes beyond mere episodes.
Your 'likes' and 'follows' give me the courage to continue this series, like a light illuminating a dark night road.
Each of those warm reactions becomes the greatest driving force for me to keep writing this series.