In this blog post, I’ll summarize my thoughts and lessons learned, focusing on my academic experiences, school activities, acts of kindness and giving, and career preparation during my high school years.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
As a Christian, my desire to live a life of service and love toward others—and to be the light and salt of society—was the starting point for developing my academic interests. As I studied life and values through philosophy, my attention naturally turned to a field that explores humanity and life in greater depth: anthropology. I felt a deep sense of sorrow watching my Chinese neighbors—a multicultural family—feel marginalized in Korean society at church, and my interest in humanity and life grew even stronger through my high school ethics classes.
Reading a variety of humanities books solidified my desire to study human life, and in the process, I realized that philosophy provided many answers. Philosophy—which explores the essential meaning of human existence and the ultimate value of life—was a fascinating discipline to me, and I took great pleasure in understanding previously unknown concepts through theoretical frameworks.
I realized that the scope of the philosophy covered in school classes was too narrow to allow for in-depth exploration. Therefore, I took the initiative to study the key ideas of various philosophers—such as Nietzsche, Kant, Descartes, and Bacon—in my spare time, engaging in advanced study beyond what was covered in textbooks. Through this self-directed learning, I was able to continue my deep reflection on humanity and life.
After enrolling in the Department of Anthropology to study topics such as migration, cultural diversity, gender, and poverty, I developed a goal to engage in activities that support socially vulnerable groups. To achieve this, I felt it was necessary to understand fundamental human values and thoroughly examine the realities of social conflicts and ideological clashes. By combining a philosophical background with an anthropological perspective, I began to contemplate the role of a legal professional dedicated to resolving issues of poverty and human rights.
Major Campus Activities and Reflections
As part of a group discussion in a sociocultural studies class, we gave a presentation and held a debate on the topic of “the legalization of marijuana.” The discussion was systematically conducted with desks arranged in a “C” shape, and roles such as moderator, questioner, and speaker were assigned. When given the floor, I argued for a phased legalization plan through regulation and oversight rather than outright approval.
At first, the debate felt awkward, and it was difficult to present my opinions while providing logical evidence. However, as I continued to prepare and research materials, I gradually gained confidence and was able to calmly present evidence and make my case during the debate. Through this process, my ability to identify key issues and organize information improved significantly.
While preparing for the debate, I researched online sources, international media reports, and relevant materials. I was surprised to find that a significant number of countries had legalized cannabis, and as I reviewed these cases, I came to believe that a simple prohibition policy could actually encourage the drug to be pushed underground. Cannabis is a plant that has been used for various purposes for thousands of years, and I concluded that an effective response requires rational regulation and management rather than an unconditional ban.
I argued that, during the process of phased legalization, we should leverage the positive aspects of cannabis and establish a management system covering the entire spectrum of production, distribution, and consumption. While acknowledging the risks of side effects such as addiction and hallucinations, I explained that we must devise regulatory measures that ensure a safe supply system and maintain public safety. Although these arguments provoked strong opposition from the opposing side, I emphasized the need for practical solutions and improved social awareness rather than engaging in emotional confrontation.
Through this intense debate, I learned how to exchange opinions maturely with people who hold different views. I cultivated an attitude of acknowledging and seeking to understand differences rather than viewing them as mistakes, and I improved my ability to propose concrete measures for problem-solving (e.g., age restrictions, advertising limits, and warning labels). Seeing my friends’ positive reactions also reaffirmed the value of thorough research and preparation.
Writing About Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
During my senior year of high school, I participated in a volunteer program offering my talents to North Korean defectors. Although my academic workload made it difficult to commit to long-term volunteering, witnessing how warmly the participants welcomed the volunteers helped me deeply appreciate the value of sharing. Later, while searching with friends for more meaningful volunteer opportunities, I joined an arts program for people with disabilities through my school’s volunteer program.
The program at the community center that supported artistic activities for people with disabilities was not a one-time event but an activity requiring ongoing preparation and collaboration. Although preparing for the concert and other tasks took a lot of time, I participated with the desire to maintain a steady connection with people with developmental disabilities and share meaningful experiences with them. I felt a deep sense of fulfillment watching them express themselves and find joy through art.
During my volunteer work, I was paired with a teammate who held prejudices against people with disabilities, and I made an effort to help that friend understand “difference.” I frequently had conversations with them to help them perceive disability not as “wrong” but as “different,” and I increased the time we spent together to create opportunities for natural interaction. Seeing my friend’s perspective change throughout this process gave me a great sense of fulfillment.
Through this experience, I learned that it is important not to view disability as something to be overcome, but rather to acknowledge our differences and live together in harmony. I also deeply felt a sense of responsibility and the value of cooperation, recognizing that the younger generation must take a central role in creating a society where people with and without disabilities can interact without prejudice. It was a moment when I realized firsthand that small acts of kindness can come together to lead to greater acts of sharing.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My motivation to pursue anthropology goes beyond mere academic curiosity; it stems from a desire to understand and assist socially vulnerable groups. My experience of reflecting on the value of humanity and life through philosophical inquiry has expanded into anthropological research, leading to my goal of academically addressing specific social issues such as migration, cultural diversity, gender, and poverty. To this end, I have laid a solid academic foundation by independently reading classics in the humanities and studying the perspectives of various thinkers.
Debate activities and volunteer experiences served as practical training during my career preparation. Through debate, I developed the ability to analyze social issues from multiple angles and propose realistic solutions, while through volunteer work, I gained firsthand experience communicating with people in the field, thereby internalizing the importance of empathy and collaboration. These experiences have helped me cultivate the attitudes and competencies necessary to prepare for a career as a researcher or as a legal professional addressing human rights and poverty issues.
Reading also had a significant impact on my career preparation. Park Wan-seo’s essay collection ‘Tofu’ encouraged me to reflect on everyday language and fostered my interest in writing and self-expression. In particular, my love for my native language and sense of identity served as the foundation for anthropological work focused on understanding and documenting people.
Angela Duckworth’s ‘Grit’ used real-life examples to illustrate the impact of passion and perseverance on achievement. It provided insight into the importance of self-understanding and the perseverance required to work toward long-term goals, prompting me to reflect on my past feelings of helplessness and reset my objectives.
“Mobile Trends 2017” broadened my perspective on technological change and its social impact. By observing how new technologies—such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality—affect human life and culture, I began to reflect on how emotion and creativity can drive social change amid advancements in science and technology. This will help me analyze modern society at the intersection of culture and technology.
The intellectual foundation and mindset I have gained through philosophy, humanities reading, discussions, and volunteer experiences are part of my preparation to delve deeper into my major in anthropology. Building on my academic training as an undergraduate, I intend to research issues of poverty and human rights and, ultimately, chart a practical career path dedicated to helping the socially vulnerable.
