In this blog post, I will focus on my academic experiences and school activities during high school, examples of compassion, sharing, and collaboration, and my career preparation process.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
While in high school, I participated in a reading mentoring program linked to the school curriculum. This program involved systematically studying and discussing books selected by teachers based on subject and grade level. It was structured so that, depending on the teachers, subjects, and classes involved, students could create opportunities to share their reading experiences and participate in honest reader presentations.
Based on survey results, my class selected a book related to the science curriculum. Under the guidance of our science teacher, we read one book every three weeks and held reading sharing sessions and presentations. The activities typically began in small groups, where members first shared their reflections with one another. We then organized our thoughts—including what impressed us, any questions we had, and topics we wanted to discuss—and wrote individual book reviews.
Each group selected a discussion topic, gathered reference materials, and held discussions. We then compiled the shared insights to collaboratively write a group book report. Following the presentations, we received feedback from the teacher on a total of six book reports and had a valuable opportunity to have the entire process—including reading activities, discussions, and writing—evaluated.
As part of the reading mentoring program, we also created reading journals, which included not only books but also records of experiences gained from various media, such as plays and movies. Since the best reading journal was selected and awarded each month, I made an effort to keep my personal journal meticulously updated. As a result, I was selected as an “Honest Reader” three times and had the opportunity to read my book report aloud in front of the entire school.
Furthermore, by participating in school-wide programs—such as leading our class’s morning reading sessions, attending guest lectures by authors, and participating in meetings to select books for the library—I realized that reading and learning go beyond simply completing assignments; they are processes that foster communication between teachers and students and cultivate critical thinking.
Writing About Major School Activities and Reflections
The most meaningful school activity I participated in was an eco-friendly vegetable garden project using microbial culture. As the school was designated as a specialized high school, the number of environmental field trip hours increased, and I consistently participated in environmental field trips and science lab classes from the time I enrolled until graduation.
While experiencing the process of organic farming at a large garden near the school, I learned how to revitalize the soil using indigenous microorganisms and minimal fertilizer, without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. We placed a sample of contaminated soil in a tank, added microorganisms several times to observe the decomposition process, and used magnifying glasses and microscopes to directly examine the soil’s recovery.
Through these experiments, we cultured the most effective microorganisms on a large scale and produced fermented plant nutrients using natural materials, which we applied to the soil in accordance with the plants’ growth cycles. As a result, we observed positive changes in seed germination and seedling growth, and even gained hands-on experience in preventing and treating pests and diseases by creating natural pesticides using medicinal plants.
Through this activity, I realized that the coexistence of humans and nature is not an abstract concept, but a process that can be directly observed and proven through experimentation. Furthermore, in the process of combining traditional agriculture with scientific farming methods to find practical solutions, I learned the joy and responsibility of scientific inquiry.
Examples of Care, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Through my participation in the school club “Jasamo (Society for Saving Nature),” I deeply appreciated the importance of cooperation and communication.
After joining the club during my freshman year, I continued research through weekly meetings and fieldwork, collecting indigenous microorganisms from bamboo forests and other locations and culturing them in the science lab.
During our club activities, we interacted with local farmers to explore the intersection of the field and science. Many farmers adhered to conventional farming methods and were often unaware of approaches that were both eco-friendly and scientific. This prompted our club to decide to compile our own agricultural handbook, where we could explain and share the microorganisms and nutrient solutions we had developed.
Producing the handbook was no easy task. We documented the process and changes through photographs, collected experimental data, and held numerous meetings. Even outside of club meetings, we continued watering, weeding, and soil remediation activities, and conducted experiments to compare and analyze the differences between our methods and traditional practices using our self-produced nutrient solutions and organic pesticides.
As a result, we compiled a process-oriented record into a booklet, creating a channel for communication with local farmers. We felt a great sense of fulfillment knowing that this collaborative effort had strengthened our connection with the local community. The trust and achievements gained through this collaboration firmly instilled in me the values of consideration and sharing.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I decided to pursue a career in pharmacy because my family environment and educational experiences naturally led to an interest in health and the environment. My parents valued a vegetarian diet and a slow-paced lifestyle, and I grew up at an alternative school that emphasized environmental education, where I learned an educational approach focused on revitalizing the soil. These values led me to deeply reflect on the relationship between human physical health, food, and the environment.
Around my sophomore year of high school, I developed an interest in chemistry and biology and set my sights on becoming a pharmaceutical researcher. I aspire to pursue a new approach to pharmaceutical research that integrates with nature, rather than focusing solely on mass-produced drugs from factories. I aim for an approach that bridges tradition and modernity, such as personalized pharmacology that considers an individual’s constitution and health status, and research that combines herbal medicine with traditional Korean medicine.
During my high school years, practical training in microbial culture and the development of bio-pesticides was a meaningful experience from a pharmaceutical perspective as well. Although pesticides themselves are not direct pharmaceuticals, I believe they can be a subject of pharmaceutical research because they are substances that enter the human body through agricultural products. Therefore, in college, I plan to continue research that integrates natural agriculture with pharmacy and lay a solid academic foundation with the goal of becoming a researcher in eco-friendly pharmaceuticals.
