From First Timer to Long-Term Student: My 3D Journey

When I first arrived at 3D Academy in Cebu, my plan was simple: stay for one month, improve my English a little, enjoy a tropical break from my routine life in Japan, and go home. One month felt just right. It didn’t feel like a huge commitment. I told my friends, “It’s like a short vacation with English classes.” Looking back now, it’s almost funny how much I underestimated the impact this one decision would have on my life.

Week 1: Breaking the Ice

The first week was a blur of introductions, nervous laughter, new faces, and my first attempts at full English immersion. At first, I struggled to express even basic opinions in my one-on-one classes. “What do you think about the news?” a teacher asked me. I wanted to reply, but I couldn’t find the words. It was frustrating—but also exciting.

My roommates were from Taiwan and Korea, and we all communicated in broken English with a mix of hand gestures and Google Translate. But somehow, we managed. I began to realize that we were all here for the same reason: to grow. That sense of shared purpose made the adjustment easier.

Week 2: Something Changed

By the second week, something had shifted. I began speaking without overthinking grammar. My confidence started to rise—not because I had mastered English, but because I was using it every day and surviving. I had real conversations with my teachers. We talked about everything: childhood memories, dreams, relationships, even politics. I started to feel like English wasn’t just a subject. It was a tool for connection.

Outside of class, I joined weekend trips organized by the school. We visited nearby islands, went snorkeling, and tried Filipino food. Every activity brought new friends and more chances to practice English.

It was also around this time that I noticed a strange thought creeping in: “One month isn’t going to be enough.”

Week 4: Extending My Stay

By the end of my fourth week, I went to the reception and asked, “Can I extend my stay?”

It felt natural. I wasn’t done yet—not even close. I was still improving, but more importantly, I was starting to enjoy the process. I liked waking up for morning classes, chatting with teachers during lunch, and studying in the common area with classmates. My days had a rhythm. English wasn’t a chore anymore. It had become part of my daily life.

I extended for another month. Then another.

Month 2: A New Routine

By my second month, I knew all the good lunch spots near JY Square Mall. I had a favorite milk tea café where I studied after class. The staff there started recognizing me and greeting me by name. I felt comfortable—like a local.

My teachers noticed my progress. One of them said, “You’re not just answering questions now—you’re asking them.”

I switched to a more intensive course with more one-on-one classes and TOEIC prep. It was harder, but I felt ready. I wasn’t just studying English anymore. I had goals. I wanted to improve my score, get better at business conversations, and maybe even use English in my future career.

Month 3: Becoming a Guide

By the third month, I had become a “regular.” New students often thought I was part of the staff. I found myself showing them around the dorm, explaining how the meal plan worked, recommending beaches to visit on weekends. I remembered how nervous I had felt on my first day, and now here I was—comfortably chatting in English and helping others.

There was one particular moment that stood out: a new student from Vietnam looked overwhelmed on her first day. I took her to lunch and introduced her to a few classmates. Later she told me, “You made me feel at home.” That’s when I realized: I had changed. I had become the kind of person I once looked up to.

What Made Me Stay?

Was it the English improvement? Yes. My vocabulary, fluency, and listening skills had all improved dramatically.

But that wasn’t the only reason I stayed.

It was the lifestyle at 3D. The rhythm. The balance.

I had deep conversations every day in my one-on-one classes. These weren’t just grammar drills. We talked about our lives, our beliefs, our struggles. I cried in one class when I talked about my family. I laughed uncontrollably in another when my teacher told me a wild story about her childhood.

There was space to grow—both academically and personally.

After class, I could hang out with friends in the dorm, go shopping at JY Square, or take weekend trips to the mountains or the sea. Life felt easy and real.

For the first time in years, I wasn’t rushing through life. I was present.

Month 6: A New Identity

At the six-month mark, I called my family and said, “I think I’m going to stay longer.”

They were surprised. “We thought you were only staying for one month!”

“So did I,” I laughed.

By then, I had stopped thinking of 3D as just a school. It had become part of my identity. I had friends from at least 10 different countries. I could understand different accents and cultural styles. I started helping with small events, planning weekend trips, and even tutoring newer students with grammar tips I had learned the hard way.

Month 9: Rethinking My Future

One afternoon, while sipping mango shake near the beach, I had a realization: I didn’t want to go back to my old job.

I had worked in a corporate office in Tokyo before coming to Cebu. It paid well, but I often felt stuck and uninspired. Here in Cebu, I felt alive. I had grown more in 9 months than in 3 years at my desk job.

That’s when I started to think about making a bigger change—maybe changing careers, maybe moving abroad. I wasn’t sure what I would do next, but I knew one thing: I didn’t want to live passively anymore.

3D had opened my eyes not just to English, but to a different way of living.

Month 11: The Final Stretch

As the end of my visa approached, I had to make a choice. I could extend again—but I felt it was time to take what I had learned and move forward.

My teachers held a small farewell party for me. We ate lechon, drank fruit shakes, and shared stories. One teacher gave me a handwritten letter that said, “Thank you for showing us how much a person can grow with courage and openness.”

I cried reading it.

One Year Later: A Different Person

By the time I flew home, nearly a year had passed.

I was not the same person who had nervously walked into 3D with a suitcase and a one-month plan.

I was more confident, more curious, and more connected to the world. My English had improved, yes—but so had my self-awareness, my resilience, and my willingness to take risks.

Today, I use English in my daily life. I’ve started freelancing remotely, working with international clients. I still stay in touch with my teachers from 3D. Some of them have become lifelong friends.

People often ask me, “Why did you stay so long?”

I always say, “Because it felt like home.”

Final Thoughts

3D didn’t just teach me English. It gave me something much more valuable—time to pause, reflect, and grow. I came for a short break, but I found a new direction.

If you’re thinking about coming to 3D, don’t worry too much about how long you’ll stay.

Just come with an open heart.

You might surprise yourself—just like I did.