In this blog post, I will summarize what I learned and felt during my high school years—focusing on my academic efforts, school and extracurricular activities, and my practice of caring for others and giving back—as well as my plans after admission.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
In my sophomore year of high school, I took physics and chemistry and prepared for mock exams simultaneously. However, my scores did not match my efforts, which was frustrating. In particular, I often scored below a grade 4 in chemistry, so I decided I needed to improve.
To raise my chemistry score, I concluded that textbook-based study was the top priority. This was because mock exam questions were often based on textbooks or EBS materials, and I realized that in chemistry, one must thoroughly understand basic concepts and chemical equations to solve application problems.
Specifically, I set a goal to “devour the textbook.” I studied so that I could recall exactly what was on each page, analyzing every single word without skimming over the content. To achieve this, I used a strategy of reviewing the textbook repeatedly, reading it thoroughly about seven times in total, including both previewing and reviewing.
When reading the textbook, I took a step-by-step approach. First, I focused on grasping the concepts and explanations; second, I checked the experimental procedures and results; and third, I read with a focus on the learning activities and points for further reflection. I also carefully examined the learning objectives, introductory notes, appendices, and footnotes, checking even small illustrations and word definitions.
In particular, I developed the habit of using the glossary in the textbook’s appendix and the page references for each term to know in advance which pages to open when reviewing specific concepts. By striving not to overlook any details from the perspective of the textbook’s author, my understanding deepened, and I gained confidence when solving actual exam problems.
Major School Activities and Reflections
During my freshman year of high school, I attended a lecture on international volunteer work given by an alumnus and was deeply moved by the issues of sanitation and medical welfare in Africa. The speaker shared that he had visited Ethiopia personally to witness the poor state of the medical infrastructure and, based on that experience, had dedicated himself to ongoing volunteer work and facility improvements.
That lecture made me realize that overseas volunteering was not just a distant concept, so I joined a school volunteer club led by the speaker and prepared to participate in overseas volunteer activities. Through regular meetings, the club researched regions in need of assistance and applied for youth participation programs offered by international volunteer organizations.
We conducted fundraising and promotional activities for a year to support the Marako region. After raising awareness through our sponsorship campaign and outreach, we secured support from a volunteer organization and were given the opportunity to visit Ethiopia during our school break. We participated in a program jointly run by Save the Children and KOICA, contributing to the distribution of ambulances and the improvement of health centers.
The condition of the health facilities we observed on-site was more severe than we had anticipated. Only one of the three health centers had a functioning water supply system; the others had broken water tanks. We temporarily installed purification and water filtration systems to prevent the use of contaminated water, allowing us to treat emergency patients while simultaneously working to fundamentally improve the facilities.
Field activities were carried out in teams. Medical staff, nurses, and university student volunteers handled medical support, while other teams focused on physical repairs, such as constructing water supply systems for the health facilities or replacing existing mud structures with brick and cement. I was part of the water supply improvement team and participated directly in the construction work. As I worked up a sweat in the hot weather, seeing the patients I encountered made me feel a sense of responsibility.
Toward the end of the three-week program, we delivered medicines and medical supplies and installed modern equipment such as solar panels to help restore the health centers’ functionality. As a result, three health facilities were able to resume their normal operations, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment knowing that we had made tangible changes, such as creating an environment where pregnant women could give birth safely.
Writing About Examples of Care, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
In addition to overseas volunteer work, I participated in a campaign to provide emotional support to marginalized children through my school club activities. Marginalized children are those who struggle to receive consistent attention and emotional support due to poverty or family breakdown, and we planned activities to support them in collaboration with a local children’s welfare center.
Rather than limiting our efforts to one-time financial aid or meal service, we wanted to emphasize the importance of emotional support—listening to their stories with ongoing care. To this end, we created promotional materials, large posters, and slogans, which we displayed throughout the school and the local community. The slogans included messages such as “Please make the saddest child in the world smile” and “Please hold the hand of the child with the coldest hands in the world,” aiming to raise public awareness.
The posters included the contact information for local welfare centers, and the campaign garnered a greater response than expected, with dozens of calls coming in every day. The fact that my daily efforts—personally creating posters, promoting the campaign, and going door-to-door—proved to be a source of deep comfort to someone served as a major source of motivation for me.
The funds raised were delivered to the organization and used to provide services ensuring that marginalized children could receive ongoing life counseling and emotional support. I even completed volunteer work guiding the children targeted by the campaign to actually utilize the facility’s services. This experience taught me how cooperation and consideration can provide tangible help, and that even a small action can change someone’s life.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation and Career Plans
I grew up in a household where medical activities and volunteer work were a way of life. My father ran a private clinic, and my mother volunteered at a domestic service organization. My parents demonstrated the value of selfless service in their daily lives, and I naturally grew up to be a person with a strong spirit of volunteerism.
Inspired by a lecture on international volunteering given by an alumnus, I resolved to engage in overseas medical volunteer work. While exploring medical-related majors, I became interested in clinical pathology. After consulting with my family, I decided to pursue a career in clinical pathology. In this program, I aim to acquire expertise by learning medical science knowledge related to the prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of pathological and physiological conditions.
I understand that the Department of Clinical Pathology at the university I am applying to focuses on training medical science experts who can provide rapid and accurate test results, and operates a practice-oriented curriculum that includes internship programs. Once I enroll, I plan to participate diligently in these internships and practical training to grow step by step.
After graduation, I aspire to become a global professional by working as a certified clinical laboratory scientist at a university hospital or comprehensive medical institution while actively participating in overseas medical volunteer work. I believe that the field of clinical pathology will not remain limited to a supporting role in the medical field but will grow in importance alongside medical advancements. I am committed to building my expertise to become a trusted professional in the medical field.
