In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences, school activities, collaborative projects, and my motivation for applying, as well as my preparation process during my time in high school.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I participated in a creative writing class where I built a foundation in writing and creative composition. The school’s creative writing class operated in three-month sessions, with the goal of completing one piece of work per session, and students could re-enroll as many times as they wished. I first joined the class in my freshman year and wrote a play; in the next session, I had the opportunity to complete a screenplay. Since a play involves structuring for theater and a screenplay involves constructing cinematic scenes, both required a great deal of time and creativity, and I had to build each scene meticulously, one by one.
In the creative writing class, I had access to relevant research materials and guidance from the instructor. When I hit a wall, I would read other works to emulate them, draw inspiration, and refine my own writing. Writing a screenplay, in particular, required designing scenes on a shot-by-shot basis, so I had to focus not just on the story’s premise but also on scene descriptions, technical terminology, and the flow of scene transitions. Whenever I encountered unfamiliar terms or techniques, I asked the instructor for help, and through that process, I felt my creative abilities gradually improve.
My first play was a family drama set in a small train station, and my screenplay was a story about a sick child. The first drafts contained many awkward parts, so I refined the settings and expressions based on my friends’ advice. For example, it was a major achievement to figure out how to make the train station setting feel more modern and avoid the clichés associated with the theme of illness. The process of reevaluating the structure and setting through others’ critiques served as a catalyst for developing my work, and at the same time, it became an experience of mutual growth where my advice also helped others.
Write about major school activities and reflections
I have been active in the “Good Deeds Promotion Club” since my first year of high school. Our club aimed to identify, promote, and participate in meaningful activities across society, and I primarily took on roles such as promotional planning, poster design, and event management. During club meetings, various ideas emerged, including protecting endangered animals, raising awareness about global warming, and increasing awareness of natural disasters and social issues.
Our grade-level team focused specifically on the issue of gorillas within the broader context of protecting endangered animals. We wanted to raise awareness about the reality that scientific and industrial development leads to the destruction of nature, damaging the habitats of specific species, and that ecosystems are threatened by indiscriminate hunting and resource extraction. Inspired by the work of Dr. Jane Goodall, we watched related videos together and then planned to create gorilla puppets using scraps of fabric to convey our message in a way that would resonate with people.
To make the dolls, we collected used clothes and fabric, finalized the design, and received sewing instruction. At first, we were clumsy at stuffing and sewing, resulting in some lopsided dolls, but we gradually improved through repeated practice. The finished gorilla dolls were packaged with a guidebook and sold at external campaigns, with the proceeds donated to organizations protecting endangered animals. The process of making and selling the dolls ourselves to raise funds allowed us to truly experience the purpose of our activities firsthand, and the experience of collaborating toward a common goal was deeply rewarding.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
While participating in club activities, I realized the need for video production skills and began collaborating with the Film Club. Our club frequently produced videos for promotional materials, so we joined forces with the Film Club members to learn practical skills such as storyboarding, scene editing, and filming techniques.
On one occasion, we participated in a project to co-produce a short film for a film festival, dividing various roles ranging from script refinement and filming supervision to sound editing and promotional material production.
Since I generally excel in print media and promotional planning, I was responsible for script review and final promotional activities. Before filming, I checked the logic and flow of the script, and after filming, I encouraged audience participation through posters and online promotions. By utilizing online media to post promotional content and encourage voting, I was able to contribute to the team’s success.
Through this collaborative process, I learned the importance of teamwork and communication. I realized that when members with different areas of expertise come together, acknowledge each other’s strengths, and faithfully carry out their assigned roles, better results are achieved. Furthermore, the experience of listening to others’ opinions, exchanging feedback, and resolving conflicts has become a valuable asset in all my subsequent collaborative projects.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
During my sophomore year of high school, I discovered that I was relatively skilled at writing. While taking an essay writing class, my ability to clearly present arguments and supporting evidence stood out, and I received relatively high evaluations during feedback sessions. Based on this experience, I judged that I would have an advantage in the essay-based admissions track and decided to prepare for the “Outstanding Essay Writer” track. My homeroom teacher’s advice also helped me make this decision.
I considered majoring in public relations and advertising, a decision inspired by my experience participating in the production of promotional materials and campaign planning through the “Good Deeds Promotion Club.” By generating ideas and creating visual and video content myself, I developed an interest in advertising and public relations, and a desire to learn more in this field. Consequently, I focused my essay preparation on topics related to public relations and advertising, as well as social and current affairs issues, and honed my essay-writing skills by analyzing past exam questions and practicing predicted problems.
Since the essay-based admissions track at the university I applied to places significant weight on both academic records and the essay, I made a concerted effort to maintain a diligent attitude toward my studies while also managing my academic records. After entering university, I plan to actively participate in major-related practical training and club activities, in addition to maintaining my GPA, to build practical skills. In particular, I aim to become a public relations specialist capable of bridging offline and online platforms by honing my skills in film and video content production and online marketing. Through team-based activities, I will further develop my collaboration skills, and through hands-on experience, I will become someone who can immediately contribute to the field.
