This blog post examines which project experiences enhance competitiveness in multimedia academic portfolios. We outline effective emphasis points using real examples.

Writing about academic experiences and reflections

“Keeping Habits and Waking Up in the Morning”
I had a very bad habit: the ‘just five more minutes’ habit. This habit especially caused me to be late in the mornings. I’d keep telling myself ‘just five more minutes,’ putting things off until I ended up late or barely made it to class on time. Naturally, this left me in a bad mood from the start of the day. I’d spend my mornings frantically rushing, with no time for any calm or thought, just scrambling to get ready. Then I’d end up dozing off in class, and I’d often get into awkward situations with teachers. This made school life feel unpleasant and frustrating. After repeating this vicious cycle, I suddenly thought: Why? Why do I live like this, as if I can’t escape this repetitive life! And then I realized. Change the habit!
So I made an effort to develop the habit of waking up early. My initial goal was to get up at 6 AM and not fall back asleep. I had a habit of always thinking, “Just five more minutes,” so breaking that habit was really tough. Sometimes, I couldn’t overcome my old, lazy self and would fall back asleep. But I wrestled with myself back and forth and managed to control my instincts. As I started waking up early more often, I began utilizing my commute time and morning self-study period. I enjoy the commute because my mind is clear in the morning and memorization comes easily. So I started studying during that time. I also resisted the urge to chat with friends during morning self-study and focused on my work. It was painful at first, but once the habit took hold, it gradually became easier. As a result, by utilizing spare moments and making the most of my mornings, I was able to study a bit more and maintain my upward trend in grades.
This experience made me realize how crucial habits are. While studying hard and putting in effort is important, I believe creating the time for that effort is equally vital.

Writing about Major School Activities and Reflections

“Why I Was Passionate About Cleaning”

I was a student who approached cleaning time with more passion than anyone else. Honestly, I don’t think devoting myself to cleaning time is something to brag about. Some might have shown leadership qualities, others might have shone by excelling at decorating or crafting with exceptional skills, and still others might have made teachers proud with outstanding grades. But sadly, I was a student who didn’t possess much of that kind of personality or those qualities. Sometimes, I felt frustrated by that reality. Why didn’t I have any one special thing like my other friends? But I thought that dwelling on such thoughts would only make me depressed, so I started looking for and respecting my own strengths. That’s when I discovered I possessed ‘diligence’ – the ability to work hard even at small tasks.
That diligence shone brightest during cleaning time. Honestly, by high school, no one is assigned to inspect each student during cleaning. Also, since teachers prioritize academics above all else, they rarely tell students to redo their work, even if it’s obviously sloppy. In other words, cleaning is essentially up to the students. So, while most tended to neglect it, I didn’t act that way. Instead, I worked even harder. Because I saw this as my responsibility, something I had to do. So I diligently cleaned my assigned area. Coincidentally, my section was the main entrance hall where the principals and guests entered. As I scrubbed that area, I wished for everyone who came through it to have a pleasant and enjoyable time.
And then something remarkable happened. More teachers began complimenting the entrance. They grew fond of me, seeing me clean it daily, and encouraged me, saying the entrance shone brighter since I took charge. Receiving praise made me feel shy and a little embarrassed that my small contribution had been noticed, but I was also happy and pleased. So, even after that, even when no one was watching, I continued cleaning diligently because I believed that cleaning this school was ultimately a good thing for the respected teachers and all of us. And that experience made me feel incredibly happy and good.

“If I start with the smallest thing I can do”

So I began with cleaning and faithfully did whatever I could within the classroom. When I saw a messy classroom, I tidied it up bit by bit. If a bulletin board was crooked, I hung it straight again. And if I found an ownerless book, I returned it to its owner. It wasn’t really a big deal, but it was keeping the promise I made to myself to offer help where needed, in the places I could see. Through these experiences, I learned the joy of working behind the scenes. It was rewarding to quietly perform small acts of kindness. Even when my efforts became known, I continued. I strove to remain someone who quietly worked for the class.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

“The patient person is not a fool, but one who receives blessings.”
I believe my most dedicated activity was serving as class president. Especially during my first year of high school, I worked diligently for my friends in that role. The first year was crucial because I focused on creating opportunities for us to bond. Our school was renowned for its academic rigor, attracting many high-achieving students. However, this also meant students tended to be more individualistic and less inclined to socialize. Having experienced the joy and happiness of friendship through activities with my middle school friends, I aimed to unite our class as class president. My idea was to exercise together the day after exams. Though everyone initially looked puzzled, wondering if that was necessary, they eventually agreed, perhaps thinking exercise after a mock exam was acceptable. And when the mock exams ended, exercising together once every three months became the catalyst that strengthened our class bond.
Exercising together helped us release the stress we’d built up from the mock exams and studying. And the fact that we released it together made our bonds even stronger. It was incredibly enjoyable to sweat together while comforting each other in our difficult situations and resolving any lingering resentments. To create that enjoyable atmosphere, I always scouted locations beforehand, checking places like the playground, basketball court, or gym that needed to be reserved. I also made sure to thoroughly inspect them. After exercising, if there was trash left behind or crumbs from snacks, I took the initiative to clean up myself without asking others. Then, surprisingly, even without me asking, my friends would step forward and help out together. I think that’s when I felt that consideration and sharing are contagious. I realized that sharing is highly infectious; it just needs someone to start it anywhere.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

“Learning About the World Through Exchange with Foreign Friends”
The most meaningful extracurricular activity for me was interacting with foreign friends. Near my school, there is a volunteer organization for multicultural families. We collaborate with this group to provide talent donations. One such opportunity involved sharing Korean culture with foreign friends over meals. This stands out most because it was my first chance to teach someone how to use a computer and smartphone.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I could teach, being someone with limited skills myself. I wasn’t academically gifted, nor was I particularly athletic. After some thought, I decided to teach what I knew relatively well: how to use computers, navigate apps, and effectively use smartphones. To my surprise, they really enjoyed my lessons. Later, as we became closer and I listened to their stories, I learned that there is no country with internet as fast as Korea’s, nor a country as close to cutting-edge devices as Korea. Learning this fact for the first time, I couldn’t help but be amazed. So, since then, I have consistently taught my foreign friends how to use computers.
Through this, what I learned most profoundly was ‘how to broaden my horizons’. While some of my foreign friends came for work, others chose to come to Korea by their own decision. These friends didn’t wait for someone to give them an opportunity; they created their own. That made a huge impression on me. So I resolved: I too must become someone who creates opportunities, not someone who waits for them to be handed to me. Because of this, I made an effort to seize various opportunities. At first, I only talked with friends who were mentors, but I gradually tried to talk with more and more friends. Through this, I was able to embrace diverse perspectives.