(R) LE9: Risk

"Strategy 9　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

  Be willing to take the Big Risk."

                                                                                              Leading at the Edge p125

A leader is sometimes required to make a bold decision i.e. take a big risk. At the same time, it is important to measure the risk properly and to consider whether it's really needed to take it.

"Understand the risks you face and evaluate them carefully. Then balance risk and return, and have the courage to step up to those calculated risks that are worth taking."(p.137)

I guess that making a decision to study abroad is a risk for many people.

In my case however, it was already decided in the course curriculum of my high school that every student in my course, International Course, experience studying abroad. (And we could graduate our school with 3 years just like the same as normal students who studied in Japan) Thus, I actually didn't wonder if I should go or not. Nevertheless, it was very hard for me to decide which college to go as my high school had ties with several different colleges in England.

I had two options:

A) go to a college in which roughly 20 students from my high school study every year, and take the vocational art class with many other foreign students there.

B) go to a college which only 3 students at maximum are sent from my high school, and take 3 AS classes with British students there.

At the moment, I was so much interested in the field of art. On the other hand, I wasn't sure whether I really wanted to be a professional artist. I actually didn't want to narrow the range of my job in the future by taking A, but taking B meant that I would miss a way to be an artist.
Also, I wanted to try to put myself in a harder environment, where only a small number of foreign students study together, and to test my potential.

Finally, I decided to study in the latter, which was described as B above, and took 3 AS classes including Sociology, Psychology and World Development.

The first 3 months were especially tough for me, but through the experiences, I could improve not only my English language skills but also my mental strength.

I've never regret that I made this decision. Well, I don't think taking B was "the right answer" and A was "incorrect", but if I took A at that time, I won't be here, at ICU today. I'm so glad that I could meet with all of my new friends at this university, and I thank for all people who supported me to be here:) ...I think that a person can take a risk only when he/she is sure that there are other people who support him/her.