This blog post explores why the ability to remain calm in critical moments is a core quality for applicants to emergency medical services programs. We’ll examine the value of sound judgment revealed through real-life cases and the preparation process.

Academic Experience and Reflections

“Creating subject-specific notes and memorizing them completely”
To be honest, I’m not naturally good at studying. I think I have less patience than other friends for sitting still and reading or writing. However, on the other hand, I really enjoy being active and I’m good at it. What I’m particularly good at is persuading people and leading them with a strong voice. Because of this, I mainly focused on standing in front of people, and consequently, I wasn’t accustomed to studying. But then, a dream emerged for me. I gained a sense of what I needed to do, and through volunteer work, I developed a sense of mission for what I wanted to do. That’s why I started hoping to enter the ‘Emergency Medical Services Department at ○○○ University’. So, from that point on, I began studying.
What I needed most was ‘foundation’. After trying to study on my own, I realized my application skills weren’t bad, but I was failing because I lacked basic theory. So, I started studying the theory from the very beginning. The method I chose was to spend two hours a day organizing the theory. After finishing the organization, I would take it with me and walk around for 30 minutes, memorizing it. Given my personality, I felt that memorizing while moving around worked best for me. That way, I started organizing two chapters per subject every day and memorized them thoroughly. As a result of this diligent approach, I could solve exactly half of the problems I knew. Of the remaining 50%, about 25% were problems I could guess correctly when slightly unsure. Everyone told me that was good enough, but I thought if I was guessing, I’d definitely get it wrong at a critical moment. So, from then on, I started organizing problems by subject. I started checking the problems I frequently got wrong and the units where my application skills were lacking. I’m studying by tackling those wrong answers one by one and mastering the difficult units. I found great interest in studying as I enjoyed the thrill of my grades improving.

Writing about major school activities and reflections

“The Most Meticulous Helper in the Health Room!”
I’m naturally a healthy person without any illnesses. I’ve rarely even caught the common cold, and since I love running and playing, I have good stamina and a sturdy build. Because of this, I couldn’t understand why someone would come to the infirmary just to lie down for a bit, or why friends who went to the health room for vaccinations or help were supposedly so sick. I couldn’t empathize with their pain and sometimes even thought they were faking it. But what completely changed my perspective was when I started helping those very friends I couldn’t empathize with.
At first, I started volunteering because the nurse was warm and kind, and I thought volunteering there would be fun. The nurse was older than my mother and was well-known for always caring for the children with utmost dedication. When I went in with a knee injury from playing soccer, she took care of me so kindly. I was so impressed by her that when I heard they needed volunteers in the health room, I started volunteering. My duties were simple: arriving early in the morning whenever the person in charge came to move cotton or supplies, and after school or during lunch breaks, watching over the infirmary in place of the teacher and providing basic first aid. I started thinking it would just be fun, but surprisingly, I learned then for the first time that many friends suffered from various illnesses.
I was shocked to discover a friend who seemed perfectly healthy actually came to the infirmary every lunch break to inject insulin for juvenile diabetes. He even had to be constantly cautious because his stress levels would spike at the slightest noise, risking shock and collapse if it became dangerous. Another friend had such a weak immune system that prolonged sun exposure caused burns. Yet others, who had undergone heart surgery, required constant electrocardiogram monitoring. Seeing their pain and struggles in the infirmary, where I’d initially gone just for fun, shocked me deeply. I began to feel a strong sense of responsibility. I came to believe that my ability to be born healthy and active was precisely to help those friends.
So, from that day on, I learned a great deal from the teacher and worked hard to become a volunteer who could offer even more help. Also, at the teacher’s suggestion, I attended various seminars teaching first aid to youth, striving to master everything from simple first aid to complex treatment methods. The more I learned, the more deeply interested I became. I realized that mastering even basic first aid could save critically ill patients facing grave danger, while improper treatment could cost someone their life. This made me determined to learn this subject thoroughly so I could help even more people.

Cases of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation and My Reflections

“Helping a Friend Who Nearly Had a Serious Accident and Transporting Them to the Hospital Emergency Room”
Compared to other schools, the slope of the hill at our school is quite steep. Because of this, the area is always brightly lit at night to prevent injuries, and the security guards always watch over the paths to and from school. But even with all these safety measures, accidents still happen occasionally. Not long ago, a friend tripped and fell because a slightly worn-down spot on the road had become a deep hole. For most friends, it would have been just a minor knee scrape and that would have been the end of it. The problem was that this friend had already sprained his ankle playing basketball at school. He was in tremendous pain after tripping on the groove while walking with crutches. I happened to spot him. I quickly rushed over, laid him down comfortably, and used a knife from his uniform to cut open his clothes loosely around the injured area. I confirmed his ankle was severely twisted and positioned him carefully to avoid further strain. I used a towel I happened to have to immobilize it, preventing any more movement. After that, I called 119 and explained the whole situation. The paramedics arrived within three minutes, and I was able to get him to the hospital quickly. After the transfer, when I was catching my breath, one of the paramedics told me that thanks to my proper first aid, the friend had avoided severe bone displacement that could have torn flesh and required surgery.
Though my help was just a towel and making the call, hearing that I had been such a big help to him touched me deeply and filled me with pride. That experience made me realize this is truly my calling. I want to learn and master this skill thoroughly so I can become someone who saves lives, especially now when accidents and dangers are so common. Wherever danger lurks, I will be the first to go, sacrificing and serving for others.

My Growth Journey and Motivation for Choosing My Major

“I want to become someone the world needs.”
An emergency treatment theory course I began by chance changed my life. Understanding it opened my eyes to so much. People in danger near water, those who nearly suffered serious harm from a simple fall at school, and even individuals suffering from personal illnesses – seeing them, knowing the theory allowed me to help and care for them. That was a great fortune for me. It gave purpose to someone who had previously felt incapable of proper study, merely fond of sports but lacking any real talent. From that moment, my life’s goal became helping people—providing proper assistance to those in need. With that aim, I chose to apply to the Emergency Medical Services Department at ○○○ University.
My greatest goal since enrolling here is to become a lecturer. I believe the most dangerous place in the world is ‘school’. Schools are filled with many students, and since everyone is in a somewhat vulnerable state, it’s actually not surprising when accidents happen there. The various incidents and accidents I witnessed while working in the infirmary were proof of this. Therefore, I want to obtain the relevant certifications and become someone who lectures on this to students who need it at school. I’m still unsure how to pursue a career in this field. That’s why I want to enter university, study diligently, find a place to apply my knowledge, and become someone who teaches children in schools that simple first aid can save lives. I believe this education is essential in dangerous times like these. To become such an educator, I first want to diligently study the theory. Then, I aim to acquire qualifications in communication skills, public speaking, and education, working in collaboration with schools. My goal is to create a safer environment.