In this blog post, I will summarize what I learned from my academic pursuits, school activities, and experiences collaborating with others during my high school years.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I have always excelled in subjects that rely on memorization. I had no major difficulties studying subjects where memorization and repetition were key, such as social studies, science, arts and physical education, and Korean language. On the other hand, math was always a headache. Although I chose the liberal arts track, which made the difficulty level somewhat lower, math was the main factor dragging down my overall grades. No matter how hard I tried, my skills didn’t improve much, which made me feel very frustrated, and people around me even suggested I seek outside help, such as private tutoring.
Nevertheless, I wanted to try to figure it out on my own. My strength was that, while my ability to apply concepts was somewhat weak, I was good at memorization. So, I decided to leverage that strength to conquer math. I bought a thick math workbook and began memorizing the various problem-solving approaches within it, one by one. I systematically learned which formulas to use and in what order to solve problems for each type, and I repeatedly worked through application problems to simultaneously build understanding and memorization.
At first, it seemed like simple memorization, but through repetition, I gradually began to understand how to solve problems in a logical way. Even when faced with new problems, I was able to apply the formulas and methods I had learned. As my ability to apply concepts gradually improved, my math grades rose, and this improvement sparked my interest in studying and motivated me to keep putting in consistent effort. Ultimately, I was able to cultivate the applied skills I felt I lacked on my own, and I truly felt that my consistent efforts, built on my strengths, led to positive results.
Reading also had a significant impact on my emotional well-being and attitude toward learning. Forrest Carter’s ‘The Days When My Heart Was Warm’ was a book that helped steady my wavering spirit; it made me reflect on the preciousness of childhood and cherish each day more deeply. Hwang Sun-won’s ‘The Old Man Who Makes Bamboo Flutes’ was a tragic story, but the human stubbornness and desperation I felt within it were a great help in sorting out and resolving my emotions. Both books contributed to organizing my emotions and strengthening my resolve during a time when I was feeling lost.
Major School Activities and Reflections
From a young age, I loved libraries and books, and I harbored a dream of creating a “beautiful library.” Starting in elementary school, I enjoyed reading and discussing books through my participation in the neighborhood library and school reading club, and I expanded these activities even more actively in high school. The high school reading club held special meaning for me because it went beyond simply reading books to engaging in activities that translated into real action.
Our school library was old and worn in many places, with many books damaged by water leaks or torn covers. I couldn’t just stand by and watch the library be neglected in that state, so I launched a “Save the Library” campaign through the club. Even amidst our busy study schedules, we carved out time to work with friends, taking books off the shelves and cleaning them up. We voluntarily collected club dues to buy necessary supplies like tape and book covers, and we carefully repaired each book one by one.
At first, I worried about when we would ever finish, but as the pile of restored books grew, my sense of pride grew too, and our efforts gained momentum. Although our teachers were skeptical at first, they gradually came to understand our sincerity and supported us, and the club grew as we attracted more members. As a result, we were able to restore seven out of ten sections by the promised deadline before the September mock exam, and I feel a deep sense of fulfillment every time I hear that our juniors are continuing our work. Through this experience, I learned the value of perseverance and gained the belief that even small efforts can ultimately bring about change.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
In my first year of high school, I found myself doing something I had never imagined. There is a tradition at our school festival where the first-year students put on a play, and the lead role for the first-year students was decided by a lottery. I had never liked standing in front of people and lacked confidence, so I was completely flustered when I was chosen as the lead. I was anxious about whether I could pull off a play that required me to laugh, cry, and shout loudly, and at first, I was very afraid.
However, as I went through rehearsals, I realized that the presence of a single actor in a play is never created in isolation. Everything that happened behind the scenes—preparing props and costumes, rehearsing lines, and coordinating movements—supported the actors, and the process of working together to compensate for each other’s shortcomings was the very embodiment of cooperation and consideration. During rehearsals, we comforted and encouraged one another, sharing what was needed, and as a result, our performances on stage felt natural.
When we successfully finished the performance and shared a sense of accomplishment with my colleagues, I deeply felt the power of cooperation. What I could never have achieved alone became possible thanks to the process of caring for and helping one another. This experience gave me the confidence that I can overcome any situation by cooperating with those around me, and it taught me the importance of caring for others and sharing what I have.
