I am doing my best to be a great student, so here it goes!
  I have wanted to learn Japanese all my life.  I have taken baby steps before, but feel like i am finally ready to commit myself.  I only have one language and culture in my life, and growing up really felt like I was missing out because of that.  Japanese culture is what I related to at such an early age because of things like video games, electronics, cartoons, movies, ect….  So I have always felt a connection to it.  I would love to be able to go to Japan again and be able to truly interact, instead of having to use so many translation apps:).

Good luck to everyone else who is starting out like myself!

Scott