In this blog post, I will summarize my experiences and reflections, focusing on my academic efforts, school activities, examples of consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying and career plans during my high school years.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I developed my high school study strategy with a focus on social studies, taking into account the assessment of behavioral competencies. By repeatedly analyzing past College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) questions and question types, I focused on understanding what the Social Studies section aimed to assess and identifying the key content required for each evaluation criterion. I realized that the 20 past exam questions were not merely for rote memorization but contained both core concepts and learning objectives, so I utilized them as a key summary guide—more important than any private study guide.
The two subjects I chose were Economics and Social Studies/Culture, and I invested more time in Economics. Since the Economics subject requires complex data interpretation skills, I prepared by first identifying the areas most frequently tested on the CSAT and then creating my own practice questions tailored to those topics. Factors affecting exchange rate fluctuations, methods for designing countermeasures against economic fluctuations, and drawing conclusions based on the characteristics of substitutes and complements were core areas that appeared without fail in the past seven years of exam questions. I organized concepts around these areas, created practice questions, and solved them to deepen my understanding.
Additionally, I incorporated the six behavioral domains—which serve as the evaluation criteria for Social Studies—into my study plan. The current CSAT evaluation domains include understanding concepts and principles, problem identification, inquiry design and execution, data analysis and interpretation, conclusion derivation and evaluation, and value judgment and decision-making. While I treated conceptual understanding and inquiry design problems—which can be solved at the textbook level—as fundamentals, I allocated more practice time to higher-difficulty question types such as data interpretation, conclusion derivation, and value judgment.
To this end, I consistently read current economic news articles and clipped sections containing data or graphs that could be used to create data interpretation problems. By repeatedly practicing analyzing the causes and effects of economic phenomena in each passage and organizing my own value judgments, I was able to develop the ability to make independent judgments and explanations, moving beyond simple memorization of facts. This process was not only helpful for preparing for the CSAT but also greatly contributed to developing my ability to interpret real-world economic phenomena.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
My high school fostered an environment that encouraged entrepreneurship education and operated a “Leading Bizcool” program at the school level. Leading Bizcool was a specialized program that integrated entrepreneurship education into the regular curriculum to ensure all students participated in entrepreneurship training. It was linked with Bizcool, a youth entrepreneurship education program organized by the Small and Medium Business Administration, and conducted various hands-on activities. Thanks to this environment, students interested in entrepreneurship and business management had many opportunities to gain practical experience.
I also joined the Bizcool club, where I was first introduced to online e-commerce and e-business models. As someone who had always been interested in economics and business, this experience helped me clarify my career path. Through classes and club activities, I learned how to operate online shopping malls, analyze startup models, and conduct market research, which broadened my understanding of the structure and operations of e-commerce.
A key activity of the club was the experience of launching and operating our own online store. We didn’t stop at simply learning theory; we gained insight into industry trends through visits to relevant companies and participation in startup expos, and we even went through the process of selecting products for sale and establishing partnerships. In particular, our store focused on local specialties, eco-friendly products, and regional agricultural goods, emphasizing regional identity and trustworthiness.
Partnered products included Jido Sopo Black Rice, Yeonggwang Mugwort Songpyeon, Shinan Sun-dried Salt, Damyang Enoki Mushrooms, Yeonggwang Dried Yellow Croaker, and Muan Onion Juice. These products are specialty items rooted in the region’s natural environment and traditions, aligning well with the concept of the experimental online store operated by the school. Rather than focusing on price competition or excessive advertising, we conducted trustworthy marketing by emphasizing the image of “health-conscious, ethical products.”
Our strategy generated positive word-of-mouth and led to tangible results. By maintaining stable cooperative relationships with local businesses, we laid the groundwork to continue operating the online store the following year. We secured sustainable revenue by establishing a stable customer base, including parents and the school cafeteria, and through this process, I was able to personally confirm the potential of e-commerce and the opportunities available to me in this field.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
The experience of giving back to the local community with the profits earned through club activities allowed me to truly feel the value of cooperation and consideration. In addition to the e-commerce club, our school had five other Bizcool clubs, including coffee and cocktails, handmade chocolate, ribbon crafts, and face painting. Each club shared operational details and transparently managed budgets and financial settlements using groupware. We used the groupware to finalize our winter season accounts and decided to combine our profits to organize a “Charity Briquette Delivery” event.
Each club contributed a set percentage of the profits generated from selling their own products to form a single budget, which we used to purchase 600 briquettes. This process followed a democratic decision-making procedure with unanimous consent, and everyone shared the same goal of serving the local community. On the day of the event, more than 50 students gathered, transcending club boundaries, and worked together with one heart.
We visited the homes of elderly residents living alone to deliver the coal briquettes. To carry them over long distances, we lined up in a single file, carefully passing the briquettes back and forth to the person next to us as we moved. We passed the briquettes one by one to prevent them from breaking. Even with work gloves on, our hands quickly turned pitch black, but we finished the task by cheering each other on with smiles. The walk home after the strenuous physical labor was filled with a sense of pride and warmth, and we were able to see firsthand how a small effort can make someone’s life a little more comfortable.
This experience taught me the importance of cooperation, the division of labor, and the sense of responsibility that comes from giving back to society. By engaging in activities that connect with the local community—beyond simply generating profit—I gained a firsthand understanding of the social responsibility of corporate activities and the fundamentals of ethical management. These experiences of consideration and sharing have become important values that will guide my future career path.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My goal is to become the CEO of an online venture company that integrates information and communication technology. I believe that a manager must be familiar with the latest technologies to accurately identify consumer needs, gain insights from them, and translate those insights into business strategies. The ability to capture consumer psychology and insights is critically important in entrepreneurship and management, and I aim to grow into a professional with such insight in the field of online commerce.
I determined that the e-Business major offers a better opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge that integrates online commerce and IT compared to a general business administration program. By learning the fundamental theories of business administration while simultaneously acquiring IT-related knowledge, I can develop a more versatile competitive edge. In today’s business environment, it is difficult to execute strategies without IT, so I believe it is essential to possess the technical capabilities to strategically implement ideas.
I plan to establish and implement a phased study plan during my university years. In my first year, I will solidly master economic and business theories. In my second year, I will acquire practical IT knowledge through major-specific courses such as Management Information Systems. In my third year, I will delve deeper into Information and Communications Management to develop specialized expertise in the e-business field. Finally, in my senior year, I will cultivate practical application skills through courses directly linked to business operations, such as Human Resource Management and Production and Operations Management.
Finally, to bridge the gap between theory and practice, I plan to participate in internships and real-world projects. I intend to launch and operate an online store based on what I have learned, gaining experience that will help minimize trial and error in the market. Building on this experience and knowledge, I aim to grow into an entrepreneur and manager who strategically leverages venture ideas in the long term.
