It felt like the responsible choice \u2014 one that made sense to my family, to my need for stability, and to the unspoken expectation that, after graduation, you pick a path and stay on it.<\/p>\n
That summer, I came across a college instructor position I was technically qualified for, so I applied, interviewed, and overcame some serious impostor syndrome<\/a>. By September, I was teaching my first college-level courses from home.<\/p>\n At first, I felt great. The hours were good, my students were kind, and my family was proud of me. I was even teaching future community-service workers.<\/p>\n On paper, it was a dream job. It felt grown-up, fit my background, and seemed like the right thing to do. Over time, though, that feeling faded.<\/p>\n I wasn’t ready to settle down, and I could feel it<\/p>\n After graduating, I got a job in my field as I felt I was supposed to.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n Between life changes, teaching burnout, and a growing disconnect from my passions, I felt stuck.<\/p>\n I’ve always been creatively inclined, whether that meant writing, making videos, cooking, or creating digital resources in my free time.<\/p>\n Instead, many of my nights were spent prepping lessons, grading assignments, and reading essays, leaving little room for the hobbies that filled me up.<\/p>\n Gradually, the work took a toll on me, but the expectation that a “good” job is one you stick with for years made leaving seem like breaking the rules.<\/p>\n In my early 20s, I felt boxed into this pipeline that didn’t suit me, and I didn’t want to follow a version of success that didn’t feel sustainable.<\/p>\n I’m entrepreneurial by nature, constantly chasing new ideas, certifications, and ways to apply them. So when I started exploring what else I could do with my skill set, freelance writing made the most sense.<\/p>\n With my husband’s support, I decided to leave teaching and pursue freelancing full-time<\/a> \u2014 a move that raised quite a few eyebrows.<\/p>\n My craving for something radically different pushed me to leave my job and my country <\/p>\n I fell in love with Japan when I first visited.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n Around the time my teaching chapter closed, I learned about Japan’s Working Holiday Visa<\/a> program. My husband and I first visited Japan in early 2024 and instantly fell in love with the country.<\/p>\n Back in Ontario, that feeling was hard to ignore. We were renting an apartment with a lease ending in October, and after spending my entire life in my hometown, staying felt more limiting than comfortable.<\/p>\n Between the rising cost of living and a sense that I had outgrown my routines, I wanted to explore something new.<\/p>\n I’ve enjoyed building a life in Tokyo.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n We applied for the visa, were approved, and sold most of our belongings as our move-out date approached. In December 2025, we flew to Tokyo and rang in the new year halfway across the world.<\/p>\n Living here has been incredible. Learning Japanese, navigating a new culture, and building a life in Tokyo<\/a> have been exactly what I needed. And yes \u2014 the food’s been amazing, too.<\/p>\n Moving abroad and changing paths didn’t mean abandoning my education or values. Instead, it meant reframing them.<\/p>\n Read more stories about moving somewhere new<\/p>\n My definition of success looks different now<\/p>\n I’ve learned that life after college doesn’t have to be linear.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n I’m no longer in a classroom, but my background in social work and teaching continues to shape the work I do.<\/p>\n I create and edit content that’s rooted in helping others, and I’m lucky enough to write about my life and experiences abroad.<\/p>\n When I told people I was quitting teaching, and later that I was moving to Japan<\/a>, it was seen as somewhat unconventional. My husband even left his stable job to come here.<\/p>\n However, the move opened many more doors than it closed. Living in Tokyo has brought new experiences, stories, and opportunities I would’ve never had otherwise.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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