Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

When asked, "Do you have any rivals?" is there anyone that immediately comes to mind? In elementary school, in the foot race at the sports day, or in junior high or high school, in terms of test scores or club activities, there are probably many people who have had a child or team that they didn't want to lose to.

I graduated from a local public boys' school, but there was a high school that was imprinted on me by the teachers as a rival school in both academics and sports. The rival school and I competed in various sports events, and in the end, the winner was decided by the total score, called the "regular match" which was a major event for both schools once a year (the 78th one will be in 2024). At that time, the school is filled with the regular match. The athletes who will participate in various events practice very seriously before school starts, during lunch breaks, during physical education classes, and after school. A group of students who are the regular match executive committee select the athletes, and spend all their time practicing while encouraging and encouraging them, and also analyze the opponent's strength. They strengthen their own team while thinking about various things such as "Which event will they focus on this year?" and "What tactics will they use?" Then, after a rally the day before, when the winner is decided in the actual event, they sing the school song of each school, which only the winning school is allowed to sing, and some students cry. That is the event.

Now that I have been a teacher for some time, I can no longer immediately think of rivals. I think about how the other person will respond, and imagine how hard each of us will work. I need someone who is passionate and makes me try to improve myself, and I think that such a person will enrich my life.

(T.S.)

No. 1171