Terry Ito Column Vol.7: Lecture at a Girls' High School

The other day, I gave a lecture at Keio Women's High School. I was invited because I had graduated from the Graduate School of Media and Governance at SFC this spring. It was a request from a professor who had been very kind to me, so I readily accepted, but I wasn't sure what to talk about.
Because of my job, I'm a lecturer at a comedy training school, so I'm used to speaking in front of people, and with students who want to become comedians, I can basically talk about anything, including dirty jokes and behind-the-scenes stories from the entertainment industry, but that's not the case in front of high school girls. I have to tell stories that will be at least a little useful for the students' future... I was worried.

I chose a few themes while recalling my high school days, long ago. During my youth, my youth was a burden. My seniors and parents would constantly tell me things like, "You're young, so you can do anything," and "Now is the time to pursue your dreams," but at the time, I couldn't even decide what I wanted to do in the future. Before I knew it, my classmates were finding jobs one after another, and I was left alone, drifting through life, which was very difficult.
I first talked about those youthful experiences, then asked them how they got out of them, and decided that the theme for this event would be "Don't take life lightly, but take it seriously."

The students at Keio Girls' High School are all serious and excellent students who have received good education from their parents. They probably have the potential to be well-suited to the workforce.
However, when it comes to outstanding individuals in society, this may be a different matter. So, my suggestion is:"Don't take life lightly, but take it seriously"He told me that when I started working at a new workplace, after learning the basics from my seniors, I should trust the path I have walked and my own sensibilities and try to come up with new ideas. The two-hour lecture ended with a question and answer session at the end.

My impression was that since they are modern high school girls, I imagined them to be a little flashy, but I was surprised at how innocent they all were. They readily sympathized with the worries I had as a student and listened attentively.
We received many comments from students who had taken the course afterwards, and they were very encouraging to us, saying things like, "It gave me a push," and "Thank you for encouraging me when I was worried." Please call us again!

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry