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TOEIC：目安 600〜800点, IELTS：5．5〜6.5 程度の記事となります。
Lost in Your Study Abroad Journey?
How to Overcome the “3rd-Year Emptiness”
“I’m in my third year of studying abroad. My English has improved a lot, but I feel this huge emptiness. I don’t feel like I’m growing anymore, and I can only handle what’s right in front of me.”
If you read this and felt something tighten in your chest, you are not alone.
Many international students hit a “gray zone” around their 3rd year abroad—
a quiet but heavy sense of emptiness, even though life looks stable on the outside.
You’re communicating in English.
You understand the culture.
You’ve survived the hardest parts.
And yet… something feels off.
Let’s break down why this happens and how to move forward again.
A Former Student’s Story:
The Emptiness After Graduation
Here’s a real example from a former student (name changed) who studied in Japan.
After completing a vocational school and graduating, she suddenly felt lost.
She told me:
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“I worked so hard to come to Japan, but now I don’t know what I’m doing.”
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“Everyone else seems to be moving forward… I feel stuck.”
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“I’m not failing, but I’m not growing either.”
Her English and Japanese were improving.
She was working part-time.
Life was stable.
But inside, she couldn’t feel any progress.
What she was experiencing is extremely common—and it has a clear cause.
The Real Cause of “3rd-Year Emptiness”:
The Loss of Goals
During your first and second year abroad, you naturally have goals:
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Getting used to the country
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Improving English/Japanese
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Making friends
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Passing classes
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Surviving part-time jobs
These goals give direction and momentum.
But after three years?
You become used to the lifestyle.
Your English/Japanese becomes functional.
Daily life becomes routine.
And the goals that used to motivate you… fade away.
This creates a silent “empty space” inside your mind.
A space where you’re not sure what to do next, even though nothing is wrong.
This emptiness is not a failure.
It is a signal that you’re ready for the next stage of growth.
How to Overcome 3rd-Year Emptiness
— 3 Practical Steps
These steps are based on what the former student actually did—and what works for many others.
STEP 1: Do a Simple “Self Inventory”
Spend 3 minutes writing down:
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What you’ve learned abroad
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What you can do now (skills, languages, habits)
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What you enjoy
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What you don’t enjoy
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What you want to avoid in your future career
This alone will clear the fog in your mind.
The former student realized:
“I actually enjoy helping others learn.”
That one discovery changed her direction.
STEP 2: Create Three Small, Short-Term Goals
Avoid big questions like:
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“What should I do with my life?”
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“What’s my future career?”
These only make the emptiness worse.
Instead, set 3 achievable goals:
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A goal for next month
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A goal for the next 3 months
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A goal for the next 6 months
Examples:
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Start preparing for the JLPT exam
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Learn one new skill for career growth
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Research job options or internships
Small goals create movement—and movement breaks emptiness.
STEP 3: Share Your Plans With Someone
When you keep everything inside, the gray zone only gets stronger.
Psychological research shows that sharing your goals makes you much more likely to take action.
Talk to someone:
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A mentor
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A teacher
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A counselor
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A support service (like ours)
The former student began sharing her small goals regularly—and that alone pulled her out of her slump.
You don’t need to fight this alone.
You’re Not Stuck.
You’re Just Ready for Your Next Stage.
The emptiness you feel is not a sign of weakness.
It is a sign that your “beginner goals” are complete.
You have grown.
Now your mind is asking for the next direction.
If your head feels cloudy or heavy right now,
let’s talk it through and build your next step together.
Free Consultation
For international students & learners in Japan
あなたのグレーゾーンを、次のステージにつながる一歩へ変えていきましょう。
