Okay. So I know this is like two months late, but I feel like I can finally talk about Reina's graduation.
I haven't watched the full concert yet (is it even out?), but from the footage I've seen, I feel satisfied.
Y'all didn't expect that, did you?
Neither did I. Honestly, when I clicked one of the YouTube videos of the footage, I thought I was going to cry. I was sniffly during Koha's graduation, bawling like a baby for Eri/Jun/Lin, sobbing for Ai-chan, and had silent tears for Gaki and Aika.
But not one tear was shed for Reina.
In their place was a feeling of pride. I was so proud of the work that Reina did in Morning Musume, and I was excited for her future.
And it was just like: "Oh. This is what Morning Musume does." Sometimes I forget that Morning Musume is really a training ground for entertainers. That's what being an idol is. Morning Musume is a place where a girl can figure out if a career in the entertainment world is right for her, and if so, what she wants to do with it. Many use it as a springboard for acting (like Ai and Risa), some use it to get in to the modeling world (like Koha). Reina has chosen to continue with singing, and has moved on into the next chapter in her life.
It was with Reina's graduation that I remembered this, and I am so happy for this reminder. It's kind of like a performing arts school in a way.
I myself made a change in my path around the time Reina graduated, so I guess these feelings about her graduation are slightly related to my own choices since I feel like we did a similar thing. I was getting a theatre degree at University, but I was really unsatisfied with my classes, and I was worried that I was going to regret my degree when I graduated. So I decided to change my major to Music Business. Music has always been a huge passion of mine, although I had been doing theatre for 10 years (like Reina in MM), so I was scared to leave. But, I finally decided to go after what I wanted and I'll be starting my music classes this semester.
And I am really freaking excited about it. I'm actually looking forward to going back to school! I'm going to be learning things that I'm passionate about, and I'll be surrounding myself with the things that I love.
Watching Reina in her graduation footage, I feel like the same thoughts were going through her head. Yes, she was a bit scared to leave something that had been her home for so long, but she had to think of herself now, and follow her own passion. As she took that last step offstage, you could tell she was thinking: Bring it On.
Watching her after her graduation in her activities with LovendoR, she has made the transition from idol to rocker so smoothly. She looks genuinely happy, and is expressing herself more freely. I'm hoping that she continues to be happy in her work, and I'm hoping that my transition into Music Business will have similar success.
Everyone in my life has been very supportive of my decision, so I'm optimistic about it.
I wish I could thank Reina personally for setting a great example for me, but for now this post will have to do.
Let's go get 'em girl!
BRING.
IT.
ON.
