JET Programme Series: What is for you will never pass you - Tsai-Ann Mc Carthy
2025/10/16
What is for you will never pass you. This is what I whispered to myself every day for the last few months. After graduating with a BA in Linguistics I found myself with a dilemma. I had a degree in a field that I love but no clear career direction. As a firm believer in trusting the universe I said out loud, “ Show me my path. Tell me my purpose”. I quickly found myself as an English tutor, a role that I didn’t expect nor truly desire but ultimately found rather enjoyable.
Around the same time, JET applications opened and quite a few people in my life sent me the notice as though to say, here’s your next step on your path. I applied with no expectations as I was well aware of just how competitive it can be, but when I got the call informing me of my successful application I started to see some alignment in my life. This is my path. This is my purpose.
After my interview I made it a point to declare to the universe, “I am going to Japan this year to be an ALT!”. I repeated it almost daily. While doing the dishes, in the midst of cooking, watching a J-drama or even on the verge of sleep, I’d whisper it softly. Then, results came. “Congratulations! …… you are now on the alternate listing for ALT candidates.” Not exactly the words I wanted to see. A pang of disappointment struck me momentarily but I consoled myself with the reminder that this was not a no…just a maybe and a maybe has as much potential to be a yes as it does a no. With that in mind I kept my thoughts positive and continued my mantra “I am going to Japan this year to be an ALT!”. Every day. Any time. All the time.
At times my faith faltered and I thought I should just forget about it because “What’s the likelihood of getting upgraded anyways?”. However, where my faith relented, my village was relentless. My brother would ask me ever so often “When are you going to Japan again?” as though I’d already had a flight booked. My mother would ask about news on Japan whenever she called because she’s “been praying on it”. Even new friends told me I have to share every bit of my journey so they can live it through me. Everyone truly believed that I’d be going to Japan. And I am!
“I am pleased to inform you that your status has been upgraded from an alternate to short-listed candidate for the 2025 JET Programme. This means that you have now been officially selected to participate in the 2025 JET Programme cycle.” I couldn’t believe it. Just two months later and my purpose was reaffirmed. Excitement and relief don’t begin to express what I felt at that moment. Since then, I’ve been preparing diligently for my upcoming journey to Gifu Prefecture. I’m looking forward to exploring the country, making new friends, living a different lifestyle and, most importantly, utilising my skills as a linguist to provide the best language education I can for my students.
I’m thankful for the support from my family and friends. I’m also very grateful to Ms. Sharon Dolabaille at the Japanese Embassy who has been a guiding light on this journey. I’ve had a rollercoaster experience thus far and I’ve only just begun so I’m sure there’s much more to come but I’m ready for it. I really am going to Japan this year to be an ALT. As I approach my new chapter I remind myself and all others who are reaching for something that seems distant, you may be delayed but never denied because what is for you will never pass you.
JET Programme Series: What is for you will never pass you - Tsai-Ann Mc Carthy (Japan Embassy's Facebook)
Around the same time, JET applications opened and quite a few people in my life sent me the notice as though to say, here’s your next step on your path. I applied with no expectations as I was well aware of just how competitive it can be, but when I got the call informing me of my successful application I started to see some alignment in my life. This is my path. This is my purpose.
After my interview I made it a point to declare to the universe, “I am going to Japan this year to be an ALT!”. I repeated it almost daily. While doing the dishes, in the midst of cooking, watching a J-drama or even on the verge of sleep, I’d whisper it softly. Then, results came. “Congratulations! …… you are now on the alternate listing for ALT candidates.” Not exactly the words I wanted to see. A pang of disappointment struck me momentarily but I consoled myself with the reminder that this was not a no…just a maybe and a maybe has as much potential to be a yes as it does a no. With that in mind I kept my thoughts positive and continued my mantra “I am going to Japan this year to be an ALT!”. Every day. Any time. All the time.
At times my faith faltered and I thought I should just forget about it because “What’s the likelihood of getting upgraded anyways?”. However, where my faith relented, my village was relentless. My brother would ask me ever so often “When are you going to Japan again?” as though I’d already had a flight booked. My mother would ask about news on Japan whenever she called because she’s “been praying on it”. Even new friends told me I have to share every bit of my journey so they can live it through me. Everyone truly believed that I’d be going to Japan. And I am!
“I am pleased to inform you that your status has been upgraded from an alternate to short-listed candidate for the 2025 JET Programme. This means that you have now been officially selected to participate in the 2025 JET Programme cycle.” I couldn’t believe it. Just two months later and my purpose was reaffirmed. Excitement and relief don’t begin to express what I felt at that moment. Since then, I’ve been preparing diligently for my upcoming journey to Gifu Prefecture. I’m looking forward to exploring the country, making new friends, living a different lifestyle and, most importantly, utilising my skills as a linguist to provide the best language education I can for my students.
I’m thankful for the support from my family and friends. I’m also very grateful to Ms. Sharon Dolabaille at the Japanese Embassy who has been a guiding light on this journey. I’ve had a rollercoaster experience thus far and I’ve only just begun so I’m sure there’s much more to come but I’m ready for it. I really am going to Japan this year to be an ALT. As I approach my new chapter I remind myself and all others who are reaching for something that seems distant, you may be delayed but never denied because what is for you will never pass you.
JET Programme Series: What is for you will never pass you - Tsai-Ann Mc Carthy (Japan Embassy's Facebook)