In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of my consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying to the Emergency Medical Services program and the preparation process that followed.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I focused more on volunteer work and participating in external programs than on maintaining my grades. While I gained diverse experiences by volunteering at welfare facilities every weekend and actively participating in campaigns, I ended up neglecting my school grades. Then, as a senior facing college admissions, my anxiety about my career path and grades grew, and I realized I needed to realign my priorities.
To improve my grades, I began by analyzing my past performance. Upon reviewing my grades from the past two years, I identified subjects that needed improvement and those I needed to focus on to raise my overall average. Based on this, I concentrated my efforts on the core subjects, setting a goal of achieving a mid-2 grade range overall.
Initially, my average grade was around a 4, so I felt that achieving my goal would not be easy. Therefore, I focused on raising my grades in Korean, Math, English, and Science to a 1-grade level, while improving efficiency by reviewing memorization-based subjects the day before exams.
My study method involved reading textbooks thoroughly at least three times and organizing my notes to cover the entire textbook. Thanks to consistent repetition and organization, my grades in the major subjects improved, bringing my average close to a Grade 2. Although I did not fully achieve my initial goal, my school grades improved noticeably as a result of my efforts, and I gained self-confidence and belief in myself.

Major School Activities and Reflections

During my freshman year of high school, I joined the RCY volunteer club on the recommendation of my homeroom teacher. As the grade representative, I was responsible for announcing activities for each grade and recruiting participants. Working with other grade representatives within the club, I learned how to communicate and coordinate to ensure smooth operations. At first, I lacked knowledge about volunteering, so I built a solid foundation by taking introductory courses and receiving training in first aid, CPR, and blood donation.
Once I had mastered the basics, I began participating in volunteer programs in earnest. The club primarily visited senior welfare facilities; we went to places like “House of Love” and the “Hyosarang Senior Welfare Center” to assist with various tasks, including facility improvements, meal preparation and distribution, cleaning, and laundry. Although the work was often difficult, I felt a great sense of fulfillment while helping the elderly, and I developed a strong sense of responsibility.
For seniors who had difficulty leaving their homes, we visited them directly to assist with daily living, deliver prepared meals, or check for any necessary home repairs. We helped improve their quality of life by replacing light bulbs or arranging repairs for malfunctioning appliances, and we strove to provide practical assistance by checking their health through basic nursing care and ensuring they had the necessary medications.
During my sophomore year, we held a club-wide meeting to gather ideas for volunteer projects, and after a majority vote, we decided to organize a blood donation campaign. We ran the campaign by arranging for a Red Cross blood donation van to be stationed on campus, where we conducted basic health screenings, provided guidance, and assisted nurses. This activity led to our club being selected as the school’s Outstanding Club, and as the class president, I had the opportunity to be recognized for the group’s achievements.

Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

Wanting to experience the same sense of fulfillment I felt while volunteering to serve meals at a senior welfare facility within our school, I volunteered for the school’s meal service program. The event, held on the weekend, was attended by many members of multicultural families and seniors, and I took on the role of assisting the staff in the dining hall to ensure the event ran smoothly.
On-site, the women in charge handled key tasks such as boiling soup and cooking rice, while the students prepared side dishes and assisted with serving. There were five of us volunteering together, and although we were short-handed for preparing food for so many people, we gathered early in the morning to divide up the tasks and worked efficiently to finish the job.
We had experiences we’d never had before, starting with moving a large steamer and washing rice, then stir-frying anchovies in a large frying pan and making steamed eggs in a large cauldron. I was particularly impressed by the moment when my friends and I cracked a large number of eggs into the cauldron, stirring them together while being careful not to let any shells get in. Finally, as we transferred the prepared side dishes onto serving trays and successfully completed the meal service thanks to our teamwork, I felt a great sense of pride.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I was deeply moved after watching a TV program about the lives of 119 paramedics. Seeing how paramedics dedicate themselves to the local community inspired me to dream of becoming someone who can help at emergency scenes. During my RCY activities, I visited the 119 emergency dispatch center and the fire station to learn about emergency rescue and CPR, and I accompanied crews to actual emergency scenes to observe their work—experiences that further solidified my resolve.
After setting my career goal, I began participating more actively in RCY activities and took my role as class president more seriously. While planning and conducting volunteer programs, I strove to demonstrate leadership, and I realized firsthand that a proactive attitude boosts other students’ motivation to participate. In the field, I learned how to lead a team by setting a good example.
My reason for applying to the Department of Emergency Medical Services at Woosong University stems from my clear sense of purpose. At the university, I plan to systematically study emergency medical services while simultaneously preparing for the 119 paramedic exam and practical fieldwork. I intend to gather peers to continue study groups and volunteer activities to gain practical experience, and after graduation, I aim to immediately begin working as a paramedic in the field.