This blog post calmly examines and summarizes the key points for emphasizing research motivation, suitability for the major, and a vision for new drug development in a biochemistry student’s academic plan, using logical reasoning and examples, when aiming to be a researcher rather than a doctor.
Motivation for Pursuing Studies (Reason for Choosing Major)
It seems silly now, but as a child, I often imagined this: I wished that if my hands touched sick people, their pain would instantly vanish. While I also desired the ability to perform miracles, it was especially the wish for sick people to be free from pain that sparked my interest in the medical field.
However, becoming a doctor didn’t align well with many aspects of my aptitude. While pondering what field within medicine would suit my aptitude, I turned my attention to new drug development. New diseases continue to emerge, and many people die because we cannot treat them. While I lack the confidence to perform life-saving surgeries with my own hands, I believe I can contribute by developing new drugs. New drug development is also a path to saving many lives, aligning perfectly with my aspirations. This conviction led me to decide to pursue a degree in Biochemistry, enabling me to develop new drugs, and prompted my application to your esteemed university. I firmly believe that your outstanding faculty and curriculum will help me advance toward my dream.
Academic Plan and Goals
First, to guard against my tendency to become complacent during university, I will strive to be an academic excellence scholar until graduation. Specifically, I have divided my university life plan into three parts.
First, I will dedicate myself to my studies. I will focus primarily on my major while also building broad knowledge in related fields like chemistry and genetic engineering. Furthermore, to meet the requirements for becoming an advanced researcher, I will study disciplines like philosophy and psychology to cultivate humanistic literacy.
And to meet the requirements for becoming an advanced researcher, I will study disciplines like philosophy and psychology to cultivate humanistic literacy. I will also dedicate myself to studying English, recognized as an international language, building the skills to read original texts, and studying computer science. I intend to master computers comprehensively, covering not only the internet but also programming languages and graphic design. This is because I understand that computer-aided drug design is gaining significant attention.
Second, I will participate in an exchange student program. I believe acquiring an international perspective and studying the academic traditions and cultures of various countries will be immensely beneficial, so I will prepare to join an exchange program.
Third, I will join a volunteer club. I believe volunteering is a natural duty as a member of society to build a healthy community. Moreover, since this is why I study, putting it into practice, however small, is what makes one a true intellectual.
Post-Graduation Plans
I will enter graduate school immediately after university graduation. I see university as a place to build the foundational skills for deeper academic study. Since my goal is research, I believe in-depth study is essential, making graduate school a necessity. I plan to conduct research focused on new drug development in graduate school and, if necessary, pursue further studies abroad. While dedicating myself to my studies, I will also consistently continue volunteer work whenever time permits. I believe it’s important to practice making tangible contributions, no matter how small.
My post-graduation plans might seem daunting, requiring such a long period of study. However, developing new drugs for many people is no easy task, so I believe this level of effort is necessary. Though my dream might seem overly ambitious, I believe progress comes from pursuing big dreams. Therefore, I will not give up and will continue to hone myself.
Self-Introduction (Life Philosophy, Values)
Human life can broadly be divided into birth, aging, illness, and death. The fact that illness is included among these four categories signifies that it is something nearly everyone must face. This means that everyone will inevitably experience the suffering of illness, and the desire to treat such people fundamentally stems from human compassion. I wish for people not to have to give up treatment due to financial reasons. While it may be difficult for my wish to be fully realized in reality, I hope that the drugs I develop can at least become a source of hope for those who are suffering. If my new drug can save even one more life, I believe the time spent studying and researching will have been well worth it. Or even if my efforts alone don’t fully realize new drug development, I trust that my successors will utilize my techniques to develop more advanced medicines. Developing new drugs is undoubtedly challenging, but with persistent effort and unwavering will, I am certain my grand dream will be achieved.
