In this blog post, I’ll summarize the academic efforts I made during high school, my participation in school activities, examples of how I practiced kindness and generosity, and my career preparation process.
Academic Experience and Reflections
When I entered high school, I decided to manage my grades systematically. While mock exams serve as an indicator of improving skills, since internal grades are the official record kept by the school, I paid even closer attention to them. I attended every session from morning self-study to evening study hall without fail, and I studied hard to stay awake during class, but my grades fell short of my expectations, which was very frustrating. When my grades didn’t improve despite my hard work, I felt a great sense of frustration and lost motivation for a while.
My initial average score was 75, and I was deeply disappointed by the result. Since I didn’t want to give up, I decided to find my own study methods. By reading study guides like ‘The God of Studying’, I learned about people who had actually created their own methods to improve their grades, and their experiences served as a great source of inspiration for me. That’s how I came to believe that, in the long run, my learning curve would eventually reach its peak.
Specifically, I launched the “Project to Raise My Average Grade by 10 Points” and started using a study planner. The planner was an appendix in a study guidebook; I used it to meticulously record the time and content of my daily studies, and I organized my weekly study volume and grades into graphs to analyze my progress. Enduring the 20-day habit-forming period and keeping consistent records required patience at first, but it gradually became a part of my daily routine.
Through the planner and graph analysis, I discovered that my efficiency varied by day of the week and time of day. I identified my own patterns, such as finding it easier to concentrate on certain subjects in the morning and achieving better comprehension when reviewing others in the evening. Based on these findings, I adjusted the optimal times and study methods for each subject and experimented with approaches like problem-solving-focused repetition and summarization. As a result, I raised my average score by 10 points in just three months. Through this experience, I learned that “hard work never goes unrewarded” and that the most important thing in studying is believing in yourself.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
My dream is to become a manager running a coffee shop franchise. Having always loved cafes as places to relax and chat comfortably with friends, I wanted to experience planning and managing a cafe not just as a barista, but as a manager. I believed that while management skills are important, a solid foundation of practical knowledge in the industry was essential, so I joined the school’s hand-drip coffee club.
Our club focused on hand-drip coffee and aimed to challenge the perception that “coffee equals luxury.” With a non-profit mission, we crafted our own tools to help people enjoy great coffee at home, conducted tastings of beans from different countries, and even roasted beans ourselves. While coffee is often marketed as the exclusive domain of high-end specialty shops these days, our activities were designed to break that stereotype.
We started with the basics. We roasted fair-trade beans ourselves and learned the fundamentals of coffee by comparing the differences in aroma and flavor across different bean varieties. Although I had previously sampled various menu items at cafes, seeing firsthand how the taste changes depending on the bean’s origin, processing method, extraction method, and filtration method sparked a desire to learn more deeply.
I also explored my potential as a home barista by making my own tools. I was surprised to discover that I could easily brew excellent coffee at home using just a funnel and filter paper. As my preconception that only expensive, large drip machines and special skills could produce café-quality coffee was shattered, I began to rethink the essence of café operations and products.
The coffee parties, which were part of our weekly activities, were also very meaningful. Gathering once a week to leisurely share coffee, engage in conversation, and exchange ideas about new menus and information served as a precious respite amidst my busy academic schedule. Through these experiences, I realized once again that a café is not merely a space for selling beverages, but a place that fosters communication and provides a sense of rest for people. Consequently, I firmly decided on my future direction: to one day create a “café like a friend” that offers customers not only coffee but also knowledge about coffee and connections with others.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Every fall at school, we organized a kimchi-making volunteer event for elderly residents living alone in the neighborhood. At first, there weren’t many participants, but hoping more friends would join this meaningful cause, I persuaded those around me. As a result, we were able to organize a large-scale event where over 100 students gathered to make kimchi and deliver it to the community.
On the day of the kimchi-making, I put on gloves, tied my hair back, and wore a mask before getting down to the task of making kimchi. Since I had only ever eaten kimchi made by my mom at home, the process of making it myself for the first time felt unfamiliar, and I worried whether I could do it well. However, mixing the seasoning into the napa cabbage and combining it with various fermented seafood was as fun as it was hard work. Above all, it was even more enjoyable because we were working together with friends rather than alone. There were four of us in our group, and we kept the mood lively by laughing and singing while we worked.
The finished kimchi was delivered door-to-door by the friends in charge of distribution, while we communicated by taking photos of the process. We delivered to about 70 households, asking for permission to take photos beforehand, and most people gladly agreed. In particular, one elderly woman invited us into her home, served us coffee, and shared many stories with us. During that time, I realized that simply being a listening ear was actually a greater comfort than any material assistance.
Through this experience, I realized that listening to others’ stories and sharing their feelings is far more important than the act of helping itself. In the process of working together to complete the task, I felt the value of teamwork, and through volunteering, I learned to be considerate of others and to empathize with them.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My goal is to plan and operate an international café franchise. I enjoy designing spaces and creating atmospheres through thoughtful interior design. My aspiration is to create a café where people can chat, relax, and unwind from the stresses of daily life. Initially, I wanted to learn the skills of a barista, but my dream gradually evolved into planning and managing a café myself, leading me to decide to major in Business Administration.
The turning point that made my goal clearer was when I read the book ‘The Success Story of Caffe Bene’. The book analyzed the factors that led to the success of a café brand, and through that case study, I solidified my goal of growing a café—one I plan and operate myself—into a global brand. I want to do more than just make great drinks; I want to design and provide value that customers experience throughout the entire space.
Specifically, to realize my vision of a “café that feels like a friend,” I intend to study the fundamental principles of attracting customers through courses in Principles of Marketing and Marketing Communication within the Business Administration department. Additionally, I plan to thoroughly master the specialized knowledge necessary for practical operations and organizational management, including Business Information Systems, Cost Accounting, Financial Management, Organizational Theory, Organizational Behavior, and Consumer Behavior.
Furthermore, if possible, I intend to obtain relevant certifications through the university’s Quality Management minor program to enhance my practical skills. Through this, I aim to develop the ability to manage product and service quality. In the long term, I plan to gain the practical know-how necessary for store operations and franchise expansion through field internships and hands-on experience.
