In this blog post, I will summarize what I learned during my high school years, focusing on my academic efforts, school activities, examples of practicing consideration, sharing, and cooperation, and my reading experiences.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

The belief that those who never give up are the ones who win has been the foundation of my attitude toward academics. I believe the virtue of studying lies in “seeing it through to the end.” During my first-year midterms in high school, I was driven by a strong desire to come in first place. Although my grades in middle school weren’t bad, I had never ranked first, and the thought that I needed to do even better for college now that I was in high school, combined with my desire not to disappoint my parents, fueled my competitive spirit.
However, the day before the midterm exams, my body weakened from tension and stress, and I ended up being rushed to the emergency room. I was in so much abdominal pain that I could barely make it through the day of the exam, and even after receiving a painkiller injection for my nervous stomachache, I didn’t fully recover until dawn. Ultimately, I had no time to study the night before the exam and had to enter the exam hall without being properly prepared.
Even so, I didn’t give up. Although I felt a strong urge to quit and was filled with fear, I resisted all those temptations and did my best to see it through to the end. I carved out time in the mornings to study as much as possible, and even while receiving an IV drip, I continued studying for the exam as much as I could. Although the results fell short of my expectations, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. This was because I was satisfied with myself for not giving up and for taking on the challenge until the very end, rather than focusing on the outcome.
Through this experience, I changed my goal from “getting first place” to “working hard enough to impress myself.” Thanks to this shift in focus, I became someone who sets my own limits and works steadily without pushing myself to the point of physical harm. Another major change was that I stopped viewing studying as merely a burden or obligation and instead found a way to enjoy it and accomplish it on my own terms.
Beyond academics, reading was a crucial factor in broadening my thoughts and attitudes. First, Milan Kundera’s ‘The Joke’ was not an easy read, but it vividly revealed how societal and group pressures can destroy an individual. The depiction of how a single small joke can lead an individual to be engulfed by collective violence made me resolve to live as someone who considers others and looks around me when I am part of a group.
This book also awakened in me a sense of the necessity of “justice.” Since individuals are sometimes weak but groups are strong, I learned the lesson that we must protect ourselves from being swept away by the majority and never give up on the effort to steer unreasonable situations in the right direction. Through this, I learned to adopt an attitude that strikes a balance between the individual and the group.
Another influential book was “Starting My Small Company” by Jung Eun-young. I came across this book by chance at a bookstore; it shared the passion and know-how of people who founded and ran small companies through interviews and personal accounts. The author honestly depicted the efforts made by people who love writing to start their own companies and keep them running.
Through this book, I was prompted to rethink the “scope of effort.” I reflected on my tendency to procrastinate simply because I felt a little sleepy or tired, and I realized that effort must be made with such dedication that it moves even oneself. Even now, when times are tough, I recall this book to remind myself of my original intentions and passion. Both books served as important guiding beacons that helped me find my direction.

Major School Activities and Reflections

Thanks to my outgoing personality and my tendency to socialize actively with friends, I naturally ended up taking on the role of class president. I was quite surprised at first because I had always thought that the position was reserved for model students who excelled academically. I was outgoing and friendly, but I wasn’t always the model student when it came to academics, and I even got scolded by teachers occasionally for my habit of talking out of turn. The fact that someone like me became class president was all thanks to the support of my friends and teachers.
My friends appreciated my cheerful personality and my caring nature, telling me that if I became class president, the class atmosphere would improve and everyone would become closer. The teachers agreed, so I took on the role, and I resolved to live up to the trust my friends had placed in me. As class president, I vowed to approach both my studies and class life with dedication.
The first habit I changed was my tendency to be late. I used to sleep in so much that I could barely get up even when my mother woke me up, but once I realized my responsibilities as class president, I started waking up early on my own and arriving at school first. I would start my day by sweeping the floor and opening the windows. At first, I thought it would be difficult, but the habit of waking up early actually became a source of energy for the rest of the day. As a result, I was able to live more energetically and faithfully fulfill my role as class president.
The most important thing I learned through my role as class president was the skill of “communication.” Coordinating the differing opinions of 30 classmates was no easy task. When I couldn’t satisfy everyone, I ultimately had to make decisions by majority vote, and there were times when the minority who weren’t chosen felt hurt. In those situations, I realized that “active listening” is the most important aspect of communication.
After making a decision, I would go to the classmates who weren’t chosen and listen to their complaints and difficulties. I listened directly to the perspectives of the minority and tried to understand their feelings. Although it was stressful at times, I truly felt the power of active listening when I saw the entire class become more at ease after I listened to and empathized with my friends. Through active listening, I was able to understand what they truly wanted, which led to smoother communication.

Write about examples of consideration, sharing, and cooperation, along with your reflections

The value I practiced most in school life for conflict management and cooperation was “consideration.” Even the smallest, most trivial matters can easily lead to arguments at school. For example, if someone insists on eating first or tries to take more food during a meal, it quickly escalates into a conflict. However, if one person starts by making a concession, the friends who see that gradually follow suit, creating an atmosphere of collaboration rather than competition. I was able to experience the beginning of that change by taking the initiative myself.
My experience during the sports day was particularly memorable. Since everyone wanted to come in first, we were so focused on practicing that the area around the field was littered with trash and order broke down. I took the initiative to pick up the trash and tried to guide my friends to maintain order. I also gave my friends priority when I wanted a drink, and when I was hungry, I made sure they could eat first.
As a result, my friends began to understand my intentions, and they voluntarily joined me in cleaning up and collecting trash—tasks that hadn’t been accomplished even when the teacher instructed them to do so. When I took the initiative and showed consideration, it led to even greater acts of kindness. Through this experience, I became convinced that taking the initiative and showing small acts of consideration lead to greater cooperation.
Since then, whenever I saw a friend struggling, I made a point of approaching them first to offer help, and I worked to create an atmosphere where others could naturally lend a hand as well. I learned that consideration goes beyond simple kindness; it is a practical way to solve community problems. As a result, conflict management and cooperation in my school life became much smoother.