In this blog post, I will summarize my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of how I practiced kindness and generosity, as well as my motivation for applying and my career plans.
Academic Experience and Reflections
I used to have a habit of “skimming over things.” I tended to focus only on problems I didn’t know and skip over those I thought I knew, which often led to minor mistakes or errors caused by misreading the questions. Experiencing my grades drop because I got questions I knew wrong really upset me, so to correct this, I adopted a method of copying out not only the questions I got wrong but also the “questions I knew” three times each.
Specifically, I prepared a thick notebook for wrong answers. I would first summarize the explanation of the solution process, and then copy the problem and the solution process exactly as they were three times below it. It might have seemed like a crude method, but as I wrote them repeatedly, my error rate decreased noticeably. Since I often made mistakes on problems I thought I knew, the process of writing them repeatedly was effective in preventing those same mistakes.
The process of writing each problem three times was physically exhausting (my arms would ache by the time I filled a whole notebook), but my mindset changed just as much. Even problems I didn’t understand at first became clearer as I wrote them out repeatedly; I gradually realized where my thinking had gone wrong, and in many cases, this led to true understanding rather than mere memorization. Ultimately, this method not only improved my grades but also transformed my attitude toward studying.
Furthermore, through the act of copying, I was able to establish solid study habits. It helped me break the habit of trying to memorize things quickly and move on, and it served as a turning point in helping me adopt a serious attitude toward my studies.
Write about major school activities and your reflections
When I first joined the computer club, I did so simply because it seemed like a comfortable and relaxing space. However, the friends I met there and the activities we engaged in became a turning point that helped me discover my dreams and vision. The club was full of friends who loved machines and enjoyed tinkering with them, and some were even pursuing their own goals while dreaming of becoming the next Steve Jobs.
Watching them, I broke free from my preconception that “only special people have dreams.” I was inspired by the way even ordinary friends embraced their dreams and took on challenges, and I realized that when you have a dream, knowledge follows and passion is born. It was then that I first began to think seriously about what I wanted to do in the future.
My activities in the computer club centered mainly on learning and volunteering. I learned programming and web development, and then volunteered by teaching that knowledge to local students or helping seniors learn how to use computers. Sharing what I had learned gave me a sense of joy and pride, and my own skills grew significantly through the process of teaching.
Through these experiences of sharing knowledge, I developed a concrete dream: to work in a field where I can introduce people to new devices and information and help them adapt. In an era where information changes rapidly, I want to play a role in helping those who struggle to keep up—specifically, by becoming a specialist who acts as a catalyst for smooth information exchange, or by founding a company dedicated to this mission.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
During my school years, I learned the value of consideration and cooperation through managing a Facebook page that started at the class level. There were many friends who enjoyed taking photos and others who enjoyed being photographed, and our homeroom teacher was relatively open-minded and supported our activities. We felt it was a shame to share only fun photos and news via KakaoTalk, so we decided to create a class Facebook page, and since I had computer skills, I took charge of managing it.
Managing the class Facebook page went beyond simply sharing photos; it served as a platform for organizing our communication system, announcing assignments and exams, and providing a channel for brief feedback on classes. We would post questions we didn’t understand on the feed to solve them together, and we’d share summaries of current events articles to discuss our opinions. This communication strengthened the class atmosphere, and as assignment sharing became more active, it had a positive impact on our academic performance.
The homeroom teacher, who had been observing how I managed the class page, suggested I run a page for the entire grade. Although I felt overwhelmed at first, I recognized the value in quickly disseminating news to the entire grade and creating a space for communication, so I took on the responsibility of managing the grade-level Facebook page as well. Since the content could be visible outside the school, there were many things to be cautious about, but I managed it diligently, believing I was doing something helpful for the students.
After my term ended, I felt a great sense of fulfillment seeing the page I created continue to be used by other grades and in subsequent years. By creating this small space for communication, I experienced how cooperation and consideration spread, and I learned about responsibility and trust.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My career goal is to be a “communicator” and to “build a company that communicates.” In college, I plan to start by interacting with a diverse range of people, listening to and trying to understand why they are learning technologies like computer science or why they chose their respective majors. I believe that through this process of listening to others’ stories, my own dreams and goals will become more solidified.
While remaining dedicated to my major, I plan to broaden my knowledge through double majors or minors to lay the groundwork for communicating with a wider range of people. I will also consistently participate in campus activities and various events to gain practical experience and expand my network. I believe that being exposed to diverse perspectives is a crucial foundation for developing communication skills.
Another goal is to take on a “small-scale startup” challenge while in college. Reading about entrepreneurs in newspapers and case studies has inspired me to take on this challenge myself. I believe that even on a small scale, the experience of starting a business and learning from failure will greatly contribute to my personal growth. To this end, I will steadily build my skills and capabilities and actively utilize the resources and opportunities provided by the university.
Ultimately, I aspire to be a student who passionately pursues my dreams and never misses an opportunity. Through the diverse learning opportunities and community activities offered by the university I am applying to, I will develop my communication skills and practical abilities, growing into a professional who serves as a bridge of communication that benefits others.
