In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences during high school, meaningful school activities, examples of compassion, sharing, and collaboration along with the insights I gained from them, as well as my motivation for applying and my career preparation process.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
Developing a Knack for Solving Problems
I preferred organizing theoretical concepts, so I used to spend a lot of time summarizing the content of textbooks and reference books. However, since exams ultimately require solving problems to produce results, I came to realize that improving my grades was only possible by developing a knack for problem-solving. Because I had to solve a set number of problems within a limited time, I determined that managing time per problem and identifying question types were crucial. Based on this, I shifted my study methods toward cultivating this problem-solving instinct.
For example, in the Korean and English sections—where time is particularly tight—I singled out the question types that took the longest to solve and practiced them intensively. During exams, I practiced managing my time by boldly setting aside questions that might cause me to get stuck for too long. By finding my own method of time management, I was able to solve problems more intelligently and efficiently.
Furthermore, rather than simply solving a large number of problems, I analyzed my teachers’ teaching styles during class to try to predict the exam format. Since exam questions are often set by the teachers themselves, I made sure not to miss any hints they dropped during class or points they frequently emphasized. After understanding their teaching styles and question-setting tendencies, I actively sought them out to discuss any areas I didn’t understand and asked questions.
Thanks to this strategic approach to exam preparation and managing my grades, I was able to achieve efficient results in a shorter amount of time. I believe my secret to studying lies in reflecting on my weaknesses and finding concrete ways to address them. Through this experience, I learned that devising a good “strategy”—not only in my studies but in everything I do—leads to more efficient results, and I intend to continue putting this into practice.
Write about major school activities and your reflections
Museum and Art Gallery Exploration Club
I have led a club that visits museums and art galleries across the country. Although small in scale, the club placed great importance on activities that allowed us to study various artifacts—such as paintings, crafts, and architecture—firsthand, and we carried out these activities consistently. In particular, once or twice a year, we would visit domestic historical sites to conduct field expeditions, investigating and researching historical facts and personal curiosities on-site. I never neglected these activities because I believed that a proper understanding of Korea’s cultural heritage is a crucial foundation for preserving the value of our culture.
Once a site was selected for a field trip, I would thoroughly research materials related to that site before visiting. Unlike when encountering artifacts only through photographs or books, facing them in person allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the value of art history. The insights gained on-site went beyond mere knowledge; they helped me realize the importance of cultural heritage and motivated me to become a professional who can help more people understand that value. I hope to fulfill this aspiration in the Department of Archaeology and Art History.
Pursuing Reading Activities
I never missed any reading-related activities on campus. In particular, I read many books related to art history and shared my opinions based on what I had read through book reports and campus writing and debate competitions. I came to believe that while majoring in art history at the university level is important, it is a field where personal interest and consistent effort lead to tangible results. Therefore, during my sophomore and junior years, I took art history courses to build a foundation of knowledge and consistently read books on history, philosophy, and Korean art, including Gombrich’s ‘The Story of Art’.
While reading Gombrich’s ‘The Story of Art’, I realized that art and history are inextricably linked. I learned that the academic scope of the Department of Archaeology and Art History is not limited to art itself; it only becomes meaningful when studied within various cultural contexts, such as history, philosophy, and the humanities. As I built up my foundational knowledge through reading, I began to get a feel for how to approach my major studies. Gradually, I set a concrete goal: to accumulate specialized knowledge through my major and create art history-related content based on my firsthand experiences. This motivated me to prepare even more diligently toward that goal.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
A Person’s Sincerity Shines Through Expression
I believe that emotions should be expressed. In particular, I firmly believe that gratitude must be expressed. I was unwell for a while and was hospitalized for about a month. Since that period overlapped with exam season, I felt very anxious, but my classmates were a great help—they brought me class notes and materials and studied with me. My friends brushed it off with a smile, saying they were grateful just for my visit, but their thoughtfulness—going so far as to bring me class notes and updates on course material—was a great source of strength for me.
I was sincerely grateful for their thoughtfulness and decided I had to express my appreciation. After I was discharged from the hospital and the exams were over, I gave my friends homemade cookies as a gift. It wasn’t a gift that offered any practical help, but I wanted to sincerely convey the gratitude I felt. As they accepted my gift, my friends apologized and thanked me, but they also expressed concern for my recovery, asking, “Did you really make these yourself?” Through that conversation, I realized that thoughtfulness and sharing are not far away, and that gratitude has even greater power when it is expressed.
Since then, I have continued to cherish and practice consideration, sharing, and expressing gratitude. I have learned from experience that sincere expressions strengthen relationships and that their positive influence spreads far and wide.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Motivation for Applying to the Department of Archaeology and Art History and Career Plans
By majoring in Archaeology and Art History, I aspire to become a specialist who systematically researches the value of Korea’s cultural heritage and makes it accessible to a wider audience. My experiences with club activities, visits to archaeological sites, and field surveys went beyond merely satisfying my curiosity; they reinforced my conviction that I must pursue in-depth research through my major in college. The experiences I gained from seeing and feeling things firsthand at these sites have solidified my motivation to apply, and based on this, I intend to build my academic capabilities to work toward widely promoting the value of cultural heritage.
To this end, I have steadily built up my foundational knowledge through activities both on and off campus, as well as through reading. I have laid an academic foundation by reading books on art history, history, and philosophy, and I have developed a sense of the field and cultivated habits of research and documentation through visits to museums and archaeological sites. At the university, building on this foundation, I plan to gain more specialized research and practical experience. I aim to become a professional who conveys the value of our cultural heritage to the public by producing art history-related content and planning educational programs and exhibitions.
I believe that the study strategies I developed in high school, my hands-on field research experience, and my sincere approach will serve as a vital foundation for my future academic and career preparation. I will work to solidify and realize this dream in the Department of Archaeology and Art History.
