In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences, school activities, and examples of compassion, generosity, and cooperation during my high school years, as well as my academic and career plans after admission.
Writing about Academic Experiences and Reflections
In high school, I tried to cultivate my critical thinking skills through a study method called “slow reading.” Deeply moved by a book written by Japanese language teacher Takeshi Hashimoto, I began to rethink the essence of studying the Korean language. I moved away from the conventional method of skimming through many works superficially and instead tried a method of savoring a single work over a long period.
Specifically, I selected works by novelist Yeom Sang-seop and poet Yun Dong-ju to find common themes within them, and I slowly reflected on various scenes from the representative work, “Three Generations.” Among Yoon Dong-ju’s poetry collections, I focused on analyzing “A Night Counting Stars,” applying the meanings of poetic language and the theories applicable to the poem as a whole one by one. Previously, my studies had involved memorizing the themes of ‘Three Generations’ and the superficial aspects of characters and conflicts, but slow reading gave me a different depth of understanding.
For example, rather than simply memorizing the various possible interpretations of the word “star” in Yoon Dong-ju’s poetry, I deeply explored why he chose “star” and how that word relates to the overall mood of the poem. When examining the character relationships in “Three Generations,” I carefully considered how Kim Byeong-hwa, despite being a socialist, became friends with Jo Deok-gi, taking into account the characters’ psychology and the historical context of the time.
Studying by analyzing a single sentence or element for hours at a time led to new discoveries. I didn’t stop at thinking on my own; I engaged in discussions with friends to hear their interpretations and consulted expert opinions as reference materials. As I developed this ability to think critically, my approach to problem-solving changed. Even when solving college entrance exam questions, I began to reflect deeply on the intent of the passage and place greater importance on the process of arriving at the correct answer.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
Our school offered elective general education courses similar to a university curriculum. Through this system, I chose pastry and baking classes as well as a class on the Four Gentlemen (orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and plum blossom). Since both were fields I had never encountered before, I participated with curiosity. Although I had never cooked before and had no talent for drawing, I found the process of learning new skills to be enjoyable.
The pastry and baking class was held in the home economics lab with an external instructor, and since it was only once a week, I had to absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time. During class, I always held a notepad in one hand and tried to jot down important points with a pen, and during practical sessions, I listened intently to the instructor’s explanations to minimize mistakes. Even so, in the beginning, I made frequent mistakes due to nervousness and clumsy hand movements.
For example, when working on an assignment to decorate chocolate brownies with whipped cream, I was flustered when my results differed from my classmates’ even though I followed the recipe exactly. However, I didn’t get discouraged; instead, I kept trying again or tried to salvage even the failed results, and my skills improved rapidly through that process. I became confident enough to make butter cookies, simple cream buns, and slice cakes, and I felt joy sharing my creations with those around me.
In the Four Gentlemen (Sagunja) class, I felt my mind calm down as I ground the ink and prepared the rice paper. At first, my work was uneven and crooked, but through slow and repeated practice, I gradually completed pieces that took shape. Through this class, I became more clearly aware that I have an impatient personality and experience significant emotional fluctuations, and through the training of sitting still and focusing for long periods, I was able to improve my concentration and study habits.
Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
I had the opportunity to share the skills I had acquired through the liberal arts classes. The pastry and baking and Four Gentlemen classes I took were also offered at a senior welfare center near the school, and the instructor was recruiting volunteers to assist with the classes there. I volunteered to participate in the service at the senior welfare center, where I gained a great sense of fulfillment and learned a lot.
When I arrived at the center, many of the seniors, like me, felt a bit uneasy at first. Since many struggled to measure ingredients accurately or didn’t know how to use the oven, I helped them a great deal. Although I wasn’t fully proficient myself, I felt a deep sense of pride in being able to pass on what I had learned to others. I tried to explain things as kindly as possible whenever I was asked questions, and through the process of repeatedly assisting them, my own skills became more solid.
On the other hand, I actually learned a great deal from the Four Gentlemen (Sagunja) class. Among the seniors at the center, there were those skilled in calligraphy, and many who were knowledgeable about the Four Gentlemen or Chinese characters. I approached the class with a mindset of learning by observing their work, and I was deeply impressed by how passionately they participated in these cultural enrichment classes despite their age. This experience further solidified my resolve to work in the field of senior welfare.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation and Career Plans
My goals regarding my career and academic pursuits are clear. I wish to major in social welfare to contribute to society, and I am particularly interested in the field of elderly welfare. While it is often said that our society is moving toward becoming a welfare society, I have felt that well-implemented policies are actually rare. Since many welfare policies are short-lived or not sufficiently communicated to beneficiaries, I believe there is a need for someone to convey information and implement policies in practice.
After enrollment, I plan to actively participate in classes and field internships that allow me to gain practical experience in the field of elderly welfare alongside learning foundational theories. After graduation, I intend to gain practical experience at elderly welfare centers and similar institutions to directly identify on-site issues and needs. I do not want to stop at merely conveying information; rather, I wish to participate in policy improvement based on the problems I observe in the field.
In the medium to long term, I plan to pursue graduate studies to systematically research the necessity, current status, and directions for improvement of elderly welfare policies. Through this research, I aim to become a professional who proposes effective policies and contributes to information dissemination and institutional improvements so that beneficiaries in the field can actually receive benefits. Ultimately, I hope to become a leader recognized for my research achievements and practical capabilities in the field of elderly welfare, thereby contributing to the operation of society.
