In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences and school activities during high school, examples of consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying and my career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
My study method, which began with the resolution to “memorize five times and solve five times!”, originated from a moment when I was reviewing concepts and realized what I was struggling to remember. Just like grammar in the language and foreign language sections, certain formulas or concepts wouldn’t stick no matter how many times I repeated them, and I kept making the same mistakes on similar types of problems.
At first, I felt frustrated and annoyed, but I realized that letting my emotions get the better of me wouldn’t solve anything. So, after thinking it over carefully, I remembered the “flashcards” my math teacher had us make when I was younger. I recalled how, even though it was hard and painful back then, writing things out repeatedly eventually helped me stop making the same mistakes.
So, I developed the habit of compiling a list of my wrong answers, especially in the Language and Foreign Language sections where I was weak, and then writing out the related formulas or concepts by hand five times each. At first, I was surprised by how time-consuming it was, and I even felt foolish for giving up everything else to focus solely on these practice sheets.
However, exactly five months after I started using flashcards, I realized that this choice had been the right one. As I wrote a lot and jotted down the solution process by hand, the questions I had gotten wrong naturally stuck in my memory, and as a result, I stopped making the same mistakes. Through this experience, I learned that “effort” means continuing even when it’s hard, and I developed the habit of studying consistently—not just through simple memorization, but even when I didn’t feel like it.
Major School Activities and Reflections
My family’s motto has always placed greater importance on manners than on studying itself. Having grown up valuing neat attire and greetings wherever I went, I developed the habit of greeting others and behaving properly at school as well. It was through my math teacher’s recommendation, based on observing this attitude, that I began my role in the Student Discipline Committee.
When I first took on the role in the Student Council, I felt burdened by the responsibility of having to point out other students’ attire or behavior. Since I am naturally someone who struggles to give direct feedback, I was very worried. Therefore, I decided to start by setting a better example myself. I reasoned that only after I had learned and followed the rules more diligently and become a role model myself would I be able to naturally offer guidance to my peers.
Through that process, I came to understand firsthand why following school rules is necessary and how the school atmosphere changes when rules are absent. I realized that in a setting where students from diverse backgrounds and with different personalities come together, the atmosphere can become chaotic without common norms, and I carried out my duties in the Discipline Committee diligently to address that issue.
While serving as the Discipline Committee president in my sophomore year, I became even more acutely aware of the weight of a leader’s responsibilities. Clearly conveying and ensuring that nearly a hundred students understood the day’s tasks and new rules was by no means an easy task. Since the Discipline Committee is in a position to reprimand students and assign demerits, every single method of communication directly influenced trust and the overall atmosphere of the organization.
Through several trials and errors, I realized that “communication” is the core of good leadership. The process of reflecting on how to speak and how to verify information to effectively convey what I knew to others gave me much food for thought, and once I began to enjoy that process, my interest in business administration naturally blossomed.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
During my second semester of freshman year, while serving as vice president of the Student Council, I devoted significant effort to listening to students who felt wronged and helping to resolve their grievances. I believed that while the president’s role was to firmly establish organizational discipline, the vice president’s role was to complement that firmness with compassion and understanding.
In reality, when a leader enforces rules decisively, there are inevitably students who feel wronged. I would seek out those students, listen to their stories, understand the context behind the situation, and try to ease their minds. While I couldn’t immediately cancel their demerits, I would explain specifically what actions they should take to avoid receiving demerits in the future and suggest appropriate behaviors.
Through this process, I clearly understood the difference between the roles of the president and the vice president, and I realized firsthand that an organization runs more smoothly when roles are well-divided. By sharing responsibilities with the president—sometimes firmly correcting students and other times offering encouragement—I was able to minimize dissatisfaction. Through this, I also learned how to act in a way that benefits the organization, depending on my specific role.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Believing that “the internet is now reality,” I chose to major in e-Business. While many people around me recommended the safe choice of a business administration major, I believed that businesses based on the internet and the web—rather than simple management—would become increasingly important in the future.
I witnessed firsthand how market structures are rapidly shifting toward an online-centric model, as seen in the spread of direct transactions and overseas direct purchases. Observing the reality of shrinking middle distribution channels, I resolved to develop specialized knowledge in online business and apply it in practical settings. That is why I chose the e-business major rather than simply opting for a safe choice.
If I am admitted to Ajou University, I plan to focus first on understanding the internet, the web, applications, and new markets. Since I have a liberal arts background, I may find it difficult to use certain tools, but I intend to adapt quickly by learning from professors with practical experience. Within the first two years of enrollment, I plan to concentrate on mastering various market analysis methods and tools.
Starting in my junior year, I intend to gain hands-on experience by selling products directly in online marketplaces. I believe there is no practice more valuable than real-world experience, so I want to dive into the market, learn through trial and error, and cultivate the qualities of an entrepreneur capable of succeeding on a global scale.
