The Current Me Who Overcame Effectively 6 Gap Years (Introduction #6)

Hello. I am Roku, a working professional who effectively spent many years as a ronin.

I would like to write about the current me after those years as a ronin.

The present after my years as a ronin

As I wrote in my self-introduction, I turned 41 this year and work as an employee at an IT company.

Becoming a ronin after graduating high school and working as a part-timer

I became a part-timer at 18 and decided to take university entrance exams at 20.

After about three and a half years as a part-timer and about two and a half years of exam preparation, I became a university student about six years behind my peers. I was a university student who had effectively spent six years as a ronin.

Entering a private university after many years as a ronin. However, I struggled greatly with job hunting...

I entered a MARCH-level liberal arts program after six years as a ronin and began job hunting in my third year of university.
Job hunting while carrying the handicap of being a long-term ronin was a series of hardships for me.

I continued job hunting without giving up, and after many difficulties, the only job offer I finally received was from one company.

I joined a major railway company as a new graduate at the age of 28.

Working at a company six years behind my new graduate peers

I worked on the front lines as a station attendant and train crew member for about five years, then changed my career to a marketing position through an internal job posting.

From then on, I worked busily every day, like a 'workaholic' employee from the Showa era.

I experienced being seconded to a group company and being transferred to regional offices, but I changed jobs due to poor business performance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I had intended to work at my first company until retirement, so I never imagined I would make the decision to change jobs.

Experiencing two job changes after becoming a working professional

At my second company, I started working as a digital marketer for a major telecommunications company.

It was dizzyingly busy. It was such hard work that I didn't even have time to look back on my days.

Also, as it was a major corporation, nationwide transfers were mandatory.

I was 40 at the time.

Thinking about my future life and my family, I decided to change jobs again.

I decided to choose a way of working that prioritizes my family and children rather than my own career.

Thoughts on becoming a working professional after years as a ronin

I have written about my career path like this, but...

Twenty years ago, when I was working as a part-timer, if I hadn't decided to take the university entrance exams despite the handicap and risk of being a long-term ronin, I don't think I would have the life I have now.

My starting salary as a new graduate at my first company was the same as my peers, which was the level of a 23-year-old's starting salary at the age of 28.

Although I started late, I have finally caught up to a wage appropriate for my age through the career change via internal posting at my first company and my job changes at my second and third companies.

My career path has been 'Chief' at the end of my first company, 'Assistant Manager' at my second, and 'Manager' at my current third company.

Honestly, at my age, there are plenty of people in higher positions, but... considering my past, I think I have managed to catch up reasonably well.

What I want to convey

If there is anyone who is thinking about taking university entrance exams later than others and wondering if it is too late to start now..., I
recommend that you take the university entrance exams without hesitation.

University is not a vocational school for job hunting, but even if you enter university later than others, your possibilities will definitely expand compared to now.

To go to university, it takes a great deal of cost, such as time, money, and effort, and requires a corresponding level of resolve. However,

the value of investing in your future self is definitely there.

I will write about it in detail along with my personal experience.

First is the part-time worker chapter after graduating from high school.
The main story is here.

"All experiences lead to the present—until I, a 6-year ronin, achieved social reintegration"
In my note, I will share the journey from my life as a shut-in after high school graduation and my time as a part-time worker, to entering university after effectively 6 years of ronin, and overcoming the handicap of being a multi-year ronin to receive a job offer from a major railway company, divided into four episodes.

➡️ I have compiled the complete record of the path I walked. Details are here.