This blog post introduces how to effectively showcase content planning skills suitable for promotional roles in your resume, based on the refined aesthetic sensibility and keen observation skills cultivated through overcoming body image issues.
My Growth Journey
As a child, I was unusually preoccupied with appearance compared to my peers. This interest wasn’t mere vanity or adornment; it bordered on a pursuit of an exceptional aesthetic sensibility. Reflecting deeply on the reason, I believe my childhood family environment played a significant role. My father had an ordinary appearance, while my mother possessed striking beauty that could captivate anyone at first glance. Unfortunately, I grew up resembling my father, inheriting none of my mother’s outstanding genetic blessings. In contrast, my younger brother, a year my junior, inherited my mother’s features perfectly, easily drawing people’s attention and affection with his distinct face.
Spending daily life with such a brother inevitably led to comparisons, and I couldn’t help but feel an invisible sense of relative deprivation. It wasn’t to the point where anyone would call me “ugly,” but whenever my brother connected easily with the world and received attention, the question “Why wasn’t I born like that?” would flit through a corner of my mind. That feeling sometimes lingered as disappointment, other times as dissatisfaction with myself.
Yet, as time passed, I no longer wanted to view this feeling as mere inferiority. Instead, it became a catalyst for me to develop a deep interest in perceptions of appearance and beauty, and the culture surrounding humanity’s pursuit of it. Since beauty isn’t equally bestowed upon everyone, people have long sought various methods to transcend their innate limitations. The accumulated techniques, knowledge, and culture from this process created a complex current that extends beyond mere adornment, encompassing human desire, identity, and social relationships.
I sought to approach my personal complex in a more exploratory direction. Though the feelings stemming from my admiration for my mother and comparisons with my younger sibling may have been small and trivial at first, they prompted me to ask, ‘Why do people pursue beauty?’ This question soon expanded into a broader interest in culture, society, and human psychology. This entire process became a significant foundation, transcending mere inferiority about appearance to foster deeper self-reflection and shape my attitude toward life.
Looking back now, the small imbalances I experienced stimulated the sensitivity and curiosity within me. Thanks to that, I was able to move beyond simply being conscious of others’ gazes and instead constantly ponder and explore the essence of beauty and the culture surrounding it. Perhaps this complex narrative of growth has shaped my own unique lens through which I view the world, becoming a crucial foundation for who I am today.
School Days
During my school years, I naturally became interested in the standards of ‘beauty’ that have evolved within human culture and their social status. I particularly wanted to explore in depth how these concepts of beauty were formed and transformed within the currents of time and society, and what meaning the diverse products of the beauty industry, which developed accordingly, held. I strove to participate in these trends, not merely staying with textbook knowledge, but seeking out and reading magazines containing related information, encountering new trends through various media, and even purchasing and experiencing trendy items that captured public attention myself. It wasn’t just about stepping back as an observer to watch the flow of the times; I wanted to participate actively as someone living in that era.
During adolescence, wanting to protect my easily bruised self-esteem, I didn’t want others to know I was concerned about my appearance. So, I spent most of my time alone in my room, quietly experimenting with cosmetics or trying out fashion items as if conducting research. Secretly, I conducted my own experiments in front of the mirror, gradually refining my personal aesthetic standards and sensibilities through this process. These moments transcended mere grooming; they were times of self-exploration and understanding, when I seriously confronted the concept of ‘beauty’ in a way distinct from my peers.
On the other hand, if my innate complex forced me to pay attention to the world of beauty, I began to think that diving deep into it and becoming part of this field might not be so bad. Rather than forever remaining an observer or researcher, just dipping my toes in, I developed a desire to express my thoughts and standards about beauty more clearly and actively. In that process, I came to believe that if the experience and effort I accumulated could help someone overcome their insecurities, and further, lead to a valuable approach to true beauty, there would be nothing more rewarding.
Ultimately, I strove not to leave my inferiority about appearance or my longing for beauty as passive emotions, but to actively connect them to my career and life. This effort greatly broadened my perspective on the world and simultaneously became a process of learning to understand and love myself. Thus, I began my own journey centered around the theme of ‘beauty,’ and that journey will continue.
Strengths and Weaknesses of My Personality
I am someone who strives to maintain self-esteem, move forward with my own resolve, and not be easily swayed by the world’s standards. Most things in the world tend to flow in the direction dictated by the majority opinion. Therefore, when one steps away from that current to walk their own path, they often encounter resistance from those around them. However, if one allows themselves to be swayed by others’ opinions that diverge from their original intent, they can easily lose their own color and uniqueness. Ultimately, one might even reach a point where it becomes difficult to clearly distinguish between the lives of others and one’s own.
Just as when entering the sea, one’s body can be swept away by the waves and unable to move as intended, if you drift defenselessly along with the world’s currents, you might suddenly find yourself on a completely unfamiliar beach, one you never intended to reach. Therefore, I believe we should cultivate an attitude that allows us to lead our lives based on our own thoughts and will, rather than simply being swept along by the majority and pursuing only the easy path. The courage to clearly say “no” when something truly feels wrong—that, perhaps, is the very strength that protects our own selves.
Of course, in that process, we may find ourselves at odds with many people, sometimes placed in lonely and uncomfortable positions. But I believe even those experiences are ultimately rites of passage we must undergo as human beings. Being ‘different’ does not mean being ‘wrong’. Rather, it is a natural process of preserving one’s own color, and also a practice for living as a true subject.
Ultimately, living while protecting oneself is not about grand or extraordinary actions. It’s the attitude of listening to your own thoughts even in small, insignificant moments, and when necessary, stepping away from others’ gazes to quietly walk your own path. That very attitude is both the strength and weakness of my character. This stubbornness to move in the direction I believe in, rather than where others point, may sometimes bring discomfort. Yet, I believe it is an essential element for creating a life that is truly mine.
Life Philosophy
I always want to strive relentlessly to become a better version of myself. Humans are inherently imperfect beings, so it’s natural for anyone to feel dissatisfied with some aspect of themselves. What matters is how one views and overcomes that imperfection, as it can significantly alter one’s attitude and the direction of their life. While some embrace their shortcomings and seek ways to transform them into something better, others, conscious of others’ gazes, obsess over ‘how to appear beautiful.’ Thus, even when facing the same imperfections, differences in thought and action ultimately divide one’s attitude toward life.
Rather than treating flaws or shortcomings as blemishes to be hidden, rushing to ignore or conceal them, it is far healthier and more productive to consider how we can refine them into something better and accept them as part of ourselves. Eliminating flaws is practically impossible. Therefore, what matters is not fixating on eliminating them entirely, but rather adopting an attitude of coexisting with them and using them as opportunities for growth. It is through the effort of confronting and striving to improve these shortcomings that the possibility for growth truly opens.
No one is perfect. However, the mindset of reflecting on oneself and taking steps toward becoming a better version gradually transforms us, ultimately guiding us toward a stronger and more positive direction. In that sense, I always strive to face my present self honestly while moving diligently toward a better future.
Motivation for Application and Aspirations
Born to a mother of striking beauty and a father of somewhat ordinary appearance, I grew up alongside a younger sibling who closely resembled our mother. This naturally led me to reflect on my own looks. Throughout this process, rather than succumbing to unconditional inferiority or negative emotions about what I lacked, I developed an attitude of constantly pondering and exploring questions like, ‘How can I compensate for my weaknesses?’ and ‘How can I highlight my own strengths?’ Thus, I found myself drawn to the concept of ‘aesthetic consciousness,’ which has evolved throughout human history. I have strived to approach beauty not merely as a consumer, but from an active and creative perspective.
I do not view the desire to ‘become beautiful’ as a simple expression of self-love. It is a profound inner longing, complexly formed between the individual and society. I believe that attempting to understand its psychological background and causal relationships more deeply is the path to realizing the true value of beauty. I believe your company, too, is one that has meticulously read customers’ essential desires based on this perspective and developed products imbued with its unique philosophy. Therefore, I am confident that my perspective and experience can synergize with your company’s direction.
Should I have the opportunity to join your company, I will dedicate myself to new product ideas, drawing upon my accumulated knowledge, experience, and relentless curiosity. I will contribute to developing authentic products that resonate with users’ emotions and desires, going beyond mere functionality or superficial aesthetics. I sincerely hope my passion, effort, and multifaceted perspective can offer some support to your company’s challenges.
