スクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは異なる場合があります。

A Frog in a Well

Inoue Masaki (National Institute of Technology, Anan College)

I got tired of this school KOSEN because nothing in Kosen made me excited. My after-school activities were so limited because the dormitory is on the school premises, and in Anan, even outside of Kosen, there are few entertaining places. So, my life was such a boring routine; Getting up, going to school, back to the dormitory, Going to bed, Getting up, Going to school, back to the dormitory, going to bed-----this cycle seemed to be endless. I couldn't find any place for my passions. I felt as if I was a frog living in a small well, never having seen the outside. (ribbit!)

Then, there was an incident that pushed me to take action.

Two years ago, I made a speech titled “Fire love strategy” on the stage of the Kosen Culture Festival. I talked about a strategy to make a beautiful girl fall in love with me. That speech was quite well received by the audience, so, I carried out the plan. But, to my surprise, she didn't receive my love although the scheme must have been perfect. I was shocked. My angel was very cute. She was much cuter than any member of AKB48 for me. But-----

After my strategy fell apart, I was confused. I didn't even know what I wanted to do. Everything seemed just meaningless to me at that time. I lost any interest in the life of Anan Kosen. But, at the same time, I was starving for something exciting. I was looking for something outside this school, outside this small well. A frog was going to open water! Finally, I decided to try an entrance exam for a university. I believed that a university could change everything for the better.

Anyhow, I started studying for my new target. To reach the target, I firmly believed that making a good plan must be a key like my former speech “Fire love strategy.” Although that plan didn't work, this time, my perfect plan should be successful. But, when my dearest friends invited me to go out, I answered, “Yes” without any hesitation. When I felt tired of studying, I went to bed without any hesitation to save my energy for tomorrow. My favorite phrase then was “I am going to study hard tomorrow!” But such a tomorrow had never come. As the result, I could achieve my study plan only half way, and I received the test result, “See you next time!”

I was disappointed with my weakness, but I learned from this experience. Although I thought I could complete anything that I decided to do, I realized that sticking to and completing what I decided was the most difficult part. I was just overconfident in myself.

Also, there have been a lot of people from whom I can learn a lot in Kosen. There have been a lot of friends whom I can compete with and grow together. But, I just had forgotten to appreciate what others had done for me.

How ignorant I was!

At first, I thought Kosen was a small well and I was a frog confined in it. But, my idea was totally wrong. My arrogance, weakness and non-doer attitudes were the walls of the well confining me and made my Kosen life boring.

But, now, I am thinking positively and doing as much as I can to enrich my life. In this way, my attempt was meaningful, I would say.

Allow me to behave as a philosopher now.

I was a frog living in a small well.
But the walls of the well were made by the frog himself.
But, if a frog has wisdom to realize his own ignorance
He can realize that the well is a wonderful place.
The frog made a big attempt.
Although the try was not successful
The courage to do it gave him wisdom to realize his own ignorance.
Now the frog is preparing himself in his wonderful well to go into open water.
(ribbit!)