When I entered university many years ago, I had no idea that I would one day become an English teacher at a university in Japan. In fact, I had no real desire to leave my hometown, Lincoln, Nebraska. Soon, I found myself drawn to film and dreamed of working in Hollywood, so I majored in film studies. I was now bold enough to leave my state, but another country was out of mind.

It was in one of my classes that I met a person who would change my life. There was a new girl in the class, and she looked nervous and confused. To be nice, I introduced myself and told her if she needed anything, I would try to help. Meeting that one girl from the Czech Republic led me to a group of international friends who remain part of my life nearly 20 years later. It sparked a desire within me to travel and eventually live abroad. Experiences with my friends exposed me to a new way of looking at language and communication, which led to an interest in intercultural communication. Before long, I was on a plane to Japan to teach English.

No matter what you think you will be doing or where you will be living in 10 or 20 years, something may happen that will change your life in ways you never imagined. Goals set us on a path, but where that path will lead is unknown. Thus, university is just the start of a new journey. My journey brought me to Japan. Where will your journey take you?