Finally!!
 

A couple years ago, I came here during one of my "let's learn Japanese" stints. I've been wanting to learn Japanese for almost ten years now, and I FINALLY have the opportunity to take it now that I'm at university. I had my first Japanese class yesterday, and I'm in heaven, I swear. <3 We just learned some simple greetings and lots of stuff I already knew, but I don't mind because I'm just so excited to finally be taking Japanese after all this time!!! It felt like the day would never come.

Glad to hear you stuck with it and finally got into a class.

You sound exactly like me eight years ago. Good luck with your studies!

Thank you! Were you successful in learning?

Yes, but not as much as I would have liked. I studied three years and lived in Japan for one. I graduated conversant, but not up to my high standard of fluency.

However, it laid the groundwork, and over the past few months I've been cramming about a thousand joyo kanji into my head. I'm on track to, by December, know all 2000 joyo kanji. I've discovered I can read almost anything non-technical now.

But, full disclosure, while in the US in undergrad, I spoke with Japanese natives three times a week starting my second semester freshman year.

Put in the time and you will be rewarded. Right off the bat, start learning kanji. If you learn 20 kanji per week (very doable), before your junior year you'll be able to read extremely easily. If you study abroad, such knowledge will place you in the highest-level classes upon arrival.

tl;dr The lesson is to work hard and reap rewards. I would be even more skilled had I been able to speak Japanese better after graduating from undergrad. Learn from my mistakes.

Edit After a couple semesters, you'll probably start taking the opportunity for granted and slack off. Fight this urge.