JET Programme Series: No Paths are Bound – Kadeisha Edwards
2025/8/25
Much to my family's amusement (and sometimes concern), I was never one to do things conventionally or stay in the box of people’s preconceived notions. In fact, one of my closest friends once told me that every time she asked what I was doing, I’d always reply with something new. It would sometimes be something random, other times something absurd, but it was always something different:
“I’m crocheting a sweater.”
“I’m learning the tin whistle.”
“I’ve decided to study both Mandarin and Japanese.”
“I’m training for a sub-30-minute 5K.”
No one could predict the next move of this Mechanical Engineer-turned-Illustrator. So, when I declared, “I’m going to apply to the JET Programme and move to Japan next year!”, no one was surprised. It wasn’t the first time I’d chosen the unconventional route.
It all started one day at the University of the West Indies. I was exhausted, worn down by semester after semester of endless projects and midterms. I felt trapped. And so, desperate for a change of pace, I took on something new: I started learning German. Yes, during my final (and arguably most demanding) year of university, I voluntarily went back to campus every Saturday morning… to learn a language completely unrelated to my degree.
One thing I noticed while doing engineering was how easy it was to get unintentionally cut off from the rest of campus. Everything I needed was right there - labs, classrooms, tutors - so I rarely had a reason to leave, except maybe to grab food. So, when I left that bubble to attend language classes in a different faculty, it was like taking sunglasses off. Suddenly, everything was vivid. Bright. The world was full of colour I didn't realize I'd been missing. In fact, I had forgotten that there was a big world outside of the engineering faculty at all! And I loved every second of it.
Later, when I began my career as an illustrator, those feelings of being boxed in returned and I knew it was time to learn another language. This time I cranked up the difficulty: Mandarin. And when Mandarin wasn’t offered for a semester, I took on Japanese. I was hooked, and to my surprise, I was good at it. I credit every A+ I earned to my teachers. They turned the girl who hated languages in high school into someone who now dreams of becoming a polyglot.
So, why did I apply to the JET Programme?
My first and foremost reason is because good teachers inspire others to teach. My language teachers changed my life. They didn’t just teach me a skill, they expanded my world. And now, I want to do the same for others. I want to transport my students outside of the four classroom walls and encourage them to explore the world, just like my teachers did for me.
Second: as Richard Feynman said, “for the fun of it!”
The engineer in me loves a good challenge - and the JET application process definitely delivered. From refining my application, to the Great Staple and Paperclip Debacle (JET applicants, you’ll know what I mean), and to navigating the whirlwind of nerves and excitement that came with each stage. There was always something new to solve, adjust, or overcome.
Becoming a successful applicant wasn’t just about hard work, it was also about community. I had friends who read and reread my Statement of Purpose until they could probably recite it, ALTs (past and present) who generously shared their wisdom, and, of course, my family, who supported and prayed for me every step of the way.
I’ll soon be moving to Fukui City; rich in history and famous for dinosaurs. It's a place that, like me, has rebuilt itself many times over. Nicknamed the “Phoenix City” after enduring significant historical hardships, Fukui City has risen again as a vibrant regional hub. That symbolism is not lost on me. I, too, have reinvented myself again and again, and I carry each version with me.
As I reflect on my journey, I’m grateful I allowed myself to explore more than one path. Every detour, every wild idea, every so-called “unrelated interest” led me here. Each experience shaped me into the person who is, without a doubt, ready and excited for this new path.
JET Programme Series: No Paths are Bound – Kadeisha Edwards (Japan Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Reports
“I’m crocheting a sweater.”
“I’m learning the tin whistle.”
“I’ve decided to study both Mandarin and Japanese.”
“I’m training for a sub-30-minute 5K.”
No one could predict the next move of this Mechanical Engineer-turned-Illustrator. So, when I declared, “I’m going to apply to the JET Programme and move to Japan next year!”, no one was surprised. It wasn’t the first time I’d chosen the unconventional route.
It all started one day at the University of the West Indies. I was exhausted, worn down by semester after semester of endless projects and midterms. I felt trapped. And so, desperate for a change of pace, I took on something new: I started learning German. Yes, during my final (and arguably most demanding) year of university, I voluntarily went back to campus every Saturday morning… to learn a language completely unrelated to my degree.
One thing I noticed while doing engineering was how easy it was to get unintentionally cut off from the rest of campus. Everything I needed was right there - labs, classrooms, tutors - so I rarely had a reason to leave, except maybe to grab food. So, when I left that bubble to attend language classes in a different faculty, it was like taking sunglasses off. Suddenly, everything was vivid. Bright. The world was full of colour I didn't realize I'd been missing. In fact, I had forgotten that there was a big world outside of the engineering faculty at all! And I loved every second of it.
Later, when I began my career as an illustrator, those feelings of being boxed in returned and I knew it was time to learn another language. This time I cranked up the difficulty: Mandarin. And when Mandarin wasn’t offered for a semester, I took on Japanese. I was hooked, and to my surprise, I was good at it. I credit every A+ I earned to my teachers. They turned the girl who hated languages in high school into someone who now dreams of becoming a polyglot.
So, why did I apply to the JET Programme?
My first and foremost reason is because good teachers inspire others to teach. My language teachers changed my life. They didn’t just teach me a skill, they expanded my world. And now, I want to do the same for others. I want to transport my students outside of the four classroom walls and encourage them to explore the world, just like my teachers did for me.
Second: as Richard Feynman said, “for the fun of it!”
The engineer in me loves a good challenge - and the JET application process definitely delivered. From refining my application, to the Great Staple and Paperclip Debacle (JET applicants, you’ll know what I mean), and to navigating the whirlwind of nerves and excitement that came with each stage. There was always something new to solve, adjust, or overcome.
Becoming a successful applicant wasn’t just about hard work, it was also about community. I had friends who read and reread my Statement of Purpose until they could probably recite it, ALTs (past and present) who generously shared their wisdom, and, of course, my family, who supported and prayed for me every step of the way.
I’ll soon be moving to Fukui City; rich in history and famous for dinosaurs. It's a place that, like me, has rebuilt itself many times over. Nicknamed the “Phoenix City” after enduring significant historical hardships, Fukui City has risen again as a vibrant regional hub. That symbolism is not lost on me. I, too, have reinvented myself again and again, and I carry each version with me.
As I reflect on my journey, I’m grateful I allowed myself to explore more than one path. Every detour, every wild idea, every so-called “unrelated interest” led me here. Each experience shaped me into the person who is, without a doubt, ready and excited for this new path.
JET Programme Series: No Paths are Bound – Kadeisha Edwards (Japan Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Reports