In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences, school activities, examples of consideration, sharing, and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying and preparations for my future career, all from my time in high school.
Writing about Academic Experiences and Reflections
I majored in Architecture and Interior Design at an industrial high school with the mindset of “preparing for the future through my studies.” My older brother had a significant influence on my decision to pursue a career in urban architecture and planning during high school. Watching him graduate from a similar program and major in urban planning in college inspired me to set the goal of majoring in urban planning myself and becoming an architectural designer. To achieve this goal, I diligently completed the required coursework.
My major studies began with the introductory drafting course in my freshman year. At first, I thought residential and general homes would be the main focus of my drafting practice, but I came to realize that the field of interior design encompasses a much broader range, including offices, public facilities, and commercial spaces. I made an effort to approach my work from the perspective of designing each space to be more efficient and comfortable, while envisioning a variety of interior environments.
In the introductory drafting course, I was able to lay the foundation for structural design by considering the functions of each construction component. Later, while studying advanced drafting and interior construction, I became capable of designing interior systems in greater detail and mastered the specific techniques required for detailed representation and drawing creation. This process was instrumental in enhancing my practical understanding.
During my sophomore year, I took courses in architectural structures and advanced drafting, building on what I had learned in my freshman year to deepen my knowledge. As a result, I reached a level where I could actually construct architectural models. During the architectural model-making process, I reproduced materials used in interior architecture on a small scale to experiment with physical and visual design. To achieve more efficient spatial planning, I subscribed to interior design magazines in addition to using textbooks, referring to various examples to enrich my practical assignments.
In my third year, I was able to complete more realistic and stable projects by considering both aesthetic elements and structural stability when building architectural models. In my fourth year, I used CAD and graphics software to design plans ready for construction, and through hands-on architectural construction practice—where I created wooden models based on these designs—I was able to experience firsthand the entire process from design to construction.
Through these experiences, I developed not only the ability to create drawings but also the capacity to plan spaces and apply my knowledge in practice by considering the characteristics of materials and structures. I also realized how crucial it is to cultivate practical skills by studying various examples and refining my own work as I prepare for my future career.
Major Campus Activities and Reflections
Research in the Science Experiment Club: Driven by my interest in chemistry and biology experiments, I joined the science experiment club as soon as I entered high school. Going beyond the curriculum, I conducted simple experiments at the college level in advance, searched for research papers in my areas of interest, and performed experiments myself within the limits of what was possible at school. In particular, as I was interested in a career in pharmacy, I explored various fields such as biology experiments, cell culture, genetic recombination, and microbiology experiments.
After conducting each experiment, I meticulously documented both the successes and failures. I repeated successful experiments multiple times to refine them into my own techniques, and for particularly successful experiments, I compiled the results into a research paper and submitted it to the school’s research paper competition, where I achieved excellent results. These activities served as a catalyst for turning my interest in pharmacy into concrete experience and played a major role in fostering a sustained passion for the research process.
Through club activities, I was able to communicate with others and foster a spirit of teamwork while conducting research together. In collaborative experiments, we had to coordinate our individual opinions and divide roles to ensure the experiment’s success, which allowed me to learn firsthand the importance of cooperation and trust. When differences of opinion arose during the experimental process, I practiced discussing them based on data and finding compromises.
Presenting My Research Paper in English: During my sophomore year of high school, I participated in a school-wide English speech contest, presenting on the experiment I had conducted. Explaining the experiment’s topic, objectives, process, and results in English required careful word choice and clear explanations of technical terms. I put a great deal of effort into drafting my speech, selecting easy-to-understand expressions and providing definitions for technical terms whenever necessary.
Rather than simply memorizing the script, I focused on fully understanding the content so that I could explain it naturally. Since I was well-versed in the experiment itself, I was confident in the accuracy of my explanation, but developing the ability to convey it clearly in English was crucial. After repeated practice, I was able to deliver my presentation without any mistakes at the competition, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment upon receiving feedback that I had sparked the audience’s interest in the experiment.
Through this experience, I realized how important detailed documentation of the experiment itself is, and that the ability to clearly explain and persuasively present research findings to others enhances one’s competence as a researcher. The experience of presenting in English also gave me confidence in developing my academic communication skills for the future.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
Helping Friends Who Lacked Confidence in Presenting: In the science experiment club, we frequently presented our own experiments and shared opinions on both failures and successes. However, I noticed that more friends than I expected were afraid of presenting and found it difficult. Since I was relatively confident in presenting and tended to organize my thoughts logically before speaking, my peers who struggled with presentations often asked me for tips.
To help them, I first reflected on why I was able to present well. The reason was that I fully understood my experiments and the content I wanted to convey, and I consciously maintained the habits of clear pronunciation and speaking slowly to avoid stumbling over my words. Paying attention to my pronunciation naturally slowed my speaking pace, giving me time to organize my thoughts and improving the clarity of my message.
I compiled these elements into a set of presentation tips and shared them with friends who were afraid of public speaking. I also gathered friends who wanted to practice and held group practice sessions. Since one of the most effective ways to improve presentation skills is to practice frequently, I focused on creating opportunities for them to gain experience on stage and providing feedback.
As a result, many of my peers began presenting their own experiments within the club without hesitation and demonstrated a more persuasive way of conveying their content. Through this experience, I learned that even a small act of sharing can be of great help to others, and that help is only fully conveyed when it is accompanied by a sincere desire to teach and understand others. Furthermore, through the process of teaching, I was able to further strengthen my own abilities in self-expression and communication.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Regarding my career path, I have defined my direction through consistent interest and diverse explorations. Through my high school major courses, I built the skills to design and realize spaces, thereby solidifying my career path in the field of urban architecture and planning. By sequentially gaining experience in design, drafting, model-making, and construction practice, I acquired the foundational skills and practical sensibilities required of a designer; based on this, I set a goal to pursue a career in architectural design.
Meanwhile, my participation in a science experiment club also helped solidify my interest in the field of pharmacy. By personally conducting pharmacy-related experiments—such as those in biology, microbiology, and cell culture—and recording and analyzing the results, I developed foundational research skills. Preparing for the school’s research paper competition and giving presentations in English provided the necessary training to systematically organize my research findings and explain them to an external audience. By balancing these major-related practical courses with scientific research activities, I have prepared for my career from multiple perspectives.
Moving forward, I intend to refine my career path based on the experiences gained from these two areas. Design thinking, which considers both space and people, can be useful in designing research environments and managing laboratories, while my experimental and research experience will help me develop the ability to bridge theory and practice. I plan to continue developing both my design thinking and scientific inquiry skills simultaneously to clarify my career goals, and to steadily accumulate additional learning and practical experience aligned with those goals.
