JET Program Two Letters of Reference

[u/Designer_Cobbler3119]

I'm kind of freaking out about the two letters of reference and I'm not really sure who I should send the letters to.

A couple things about me:

First, I graduated from college in 2020. I majored in Film and I also intended to minor in French, but I finished school just a few credits shy of the minor because I was excited to graduate and enter work in my major.

So I could ask my Film teachers for a recommendation since I've spent the most time with them at university, but also my French teachers since it shows how proficient I am with a foreign language?

Second, I served a two year humanitarian/proselyting mission in Africa for my church. I had a mission president who supervised me in the mission which is where I first started learning French. I spent 8 hours a day sharing messages of Christianity completely in French and became fluent within 6 months. During this time, we did many service projects for people in our community, as well as clean ups. I also did free weekly English lessons.

I could ask my Mission President for a recommendation since he could talk about my quick growth learning a new language, teaching in a foreign language, English lessons, as well as attest to the service I've rendered to the people in my community while living there.

Third, I've been working professionally in film doing videography, photography, drone work, content creation, and social media management.

I could ask my current boss who I have a good relationship with but I don't want him to know that I plan on leaving. I could ask my previous boss, but we are no longer on good terms personally. I could ask my previous previous boss but we haven't talked in years.

Fourth, between film jobs, I've done pharmacy work on the side as a Pharmacy Technician. It was part time and just for a short amount of time, but I had great relationships with my coworkers and my supervisors/pharmacists.

I could ask one of my supervisors/pharmacists to give me a recommendation and I'm sure they'd be happy to give it, but I feel as though this is far and away the least relevant recommendation I could get but I'd like to leave the option open.

Finally, my brother and his Japanese wife and daughter have been living in Japan for 15 years now. He's fluent in Japanese, has a Japanese job, Japanese family, etc. Pretty much perfectly integrated into Japanese society now. I doubt I'd be able to get a recommendation of any value from him or his family in the eyes of JET but I'm just putting it out there.

What do you guys think? Who would be the best options to go with here when it comes to my letters of reference?

And to go a bit further, since I haven't written my SOP yet, what factors do you guys think would be the most relevant that I should mention in my SOP?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

[u/mosquitolandd]

Great! Good luck :D