In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences, school activities, examples of acts of kindness and sharing, and my career preparation process during my time in high school.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
When selecting science courses, I chose biology and chemistry with the goal of majoring in pharmacy. To avoid wasting time inefficiently while studying these two subjects, I sought out effective study methods by referring to statistical and survey-based findings on the study habits of all students who had chosen the same subjects. The findings indicated that repetition and memorization were crucial for biology, while becoming proficient at solving problems was key for chemistry; I aimed to improve my study methods based on these findings.
First, for my biology studies, I changed my previous habit of focusing on repetition by unit. Reflecting the survey findings that it is more efficient to group similar content into parts rather than memorizing each unit separately after a single read-through, I grouped multiple units into several clusters and practiced writing down the key points for each cluster on paper with the textbook closed. Since there were many subcategories within each unit, writing everything down at once felt overwhelming; however, dividing the material into clusters allowed me to practice selecting and writing down only the essentials, which improved my learning efficiency.
Second, when studying chemistry, I changed my approach of spending excessive time trying to perfectly memorize theories and formulas. Following the advice provided in the previous survey—to minimize time spent on theory and formulas and start solving problems quickly to become familiar with question types—I repeatedly solved relevant problems while studying to naturally internalize the formulas. I realized firsthand that becoming familiar with question types was more effective, as actual exam questions rarely asked about difficult theories in a complicated manner.
Major Extracurricular Activities and Reflections
Ever since my freshman year of high school, I have dreamed of becoming a pharmacist and have been fascinated by the process of combining chemical substances to create new materials. In particular, I was very interested in the field of cosmetics manufacturing. I found this field intriguing because it requires not only chemical formulations but also consideration of aesthetic elements and human safety. Consequently, I joined a club dedicated to developing natural cosmetics, where I had the opportunity to research and learn various manufacturing methods.
The club did not focus solely on cosmetic purposes. For skin care products, we considered issues such as skin irritation and allergies, and for body care products, we addressed concerns like atopic dermatitis. We strove to create products that were harmless to the human body by using natural ingredients throughout. We invited external instructors to lead classes and Q&A sessions, allowing us to systematically learn about manufacturing methods and safety.
First, we worked on developing aromatherapy-related products. Aiming to create products that retain their scent for a long time—such as aromatic perfumes and diffusers—we tested various scents using essential oils that are harmless to the human body and adjusted the blending ratios. We formulated the perfumes and diffusers by adjusting the amount of water, and after numerous trials to fine-tune the ratios, we completed the final products.
I found the process of blending natural ingredients to create products myself to be incredibly fascinating, and I even came up with the idea to develop scented candles. I studied the different types of paraffin (standard, high-temperature, low-temperature, etc.) and conducted experiments by burning samples to compare burn time and scent longevity, which helped me identify the optimal materials and manufacturing methods. Based on the instructors’ advice, I selected aromatic scents and completed the scented candles.
Furthermore, I personally planned classes on making natural soap and natural sunscreen. I contacted organizations that offer such classes to invite guest instructors and discussed in detail what shapes the soap should take and what functions the sunscreen should have. As a result, we created soap that incorporated herbs and featured a two-tone color scheme, balancing both functionality and design. For the sunscreen, we produced a large quantity of handmade sunscreen through a relatively complex process involving the separate preparation of the aqueous and oil phases.
Through these club activities, I gained practical experience in cosmetics development and honed my planning skills, ultimately reaffirming my career goal of becoming a cosmetics developer in the future.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Since our school has a predominantly female student body, many students were interested in appearance and cosmetics. Taking this into account, our club decided to sell the cosmetics we developed at the school’s daily market. Through meetings, we set the date and time for the market and decided to sell our products for one hour on a Saturday—when classes end early and many students leave school at the same time—at a location in front of the school gate with high foot traffic.
The products we sold included scented candles, aroma diffusers, perfumes, natural soaps, facial oils, and sunscreen. Since everything was handmade using natural ingredients, we promoted them as gentle products suitable even for teenagers. The best-selling item was the natural soap, which was available in relatively large quantities at an affordable price, followed by facial oils and perfumes. Although we had only a small quantity of scented candles and sunscreen, we sold everything we had made.
Since the proceeds exceeded our expectations, we decided to donate the remaining funds from the sale. Rather than donating everything to a single organization, we decided to split into teams and deliver the donations directly to those in need. We divided the club members into two teams to share the tasks.
One team visited the Aromatherapy Association, which had been assisting us with our classes, and donated the proceeds to fund free lectures at the Cultural Welfare Center. The other team visited a local nursing home to deliver the donation for facility operations and distributed some of the handmade cosmetics for the elderly residents to use in their daily lives. Through this process, I felt a great sense of fulfillment knowing that my creations could bring joy to others, and I truly appreciated the value of cooperation and sharing.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Initially, I chose biology and chemistry with the goal of becoming a pharmacist, but through school activities, I developed a greater interest in developing cosmetics based on my knowledge of chemistry. I determined that the cosmetics field aligns well with my interests and aptitudes because it requires not only a chemical understanding but also consideration of human safety, design, and consumer needs.
Through club activities, I invited external instructors to learn about manufacturing processes and safety standards, and I built practical skills by personally planning, producing, and selling products. By experiencing the entire process—from aroma blending and experiments with different types of paraffin to making soap and sunscreen, as well as planning classes, securing guest lecturers, running flea markets, and participating in charitable activities—I cultivated the planning skills, experimental abilities, sense of responsibility, and social awareness necessary for a product developer.
Moving forward, I plan to further solidify my foundational knowledge of chemistry while continuing to develop my product development skills with a focus on safety and the consumer perspective. The experiences I gained in high school have served as a strong foundation for refining my career path and preparing for the professional world.
