In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned by focusing on the academic efforts I made, my participation in school activities, and my experiences with empathy and collaboration during my time in high school.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
Repeated Memorization — I used to believe that memorizing formulas and basic theories in science and math classes was the surest path to high scores. I was convinced that no matter how many question types I mastered, exams like the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) would present new variations, and ultimately, only those with a solid foundation would be able to solve them. In my freshman year, I focused exclusively on practicing problem-solving, believing that sticking to familiar question types was sufficient. However, when I realized this approach wasn’t improving my grades, I reevaluated my study methods. As a result, I changed my study strategy to go back to basics and thoroughly organize and memorize theories and formulas.
Specifically, I developed the habit of using my time every morning and evening to thoroughly review the basic theories and memorize them repeatedly. During school breaks, I organized the theories for Korean, Math, English, and Science subjects, and memorized one chapter each morning. While reviewing my notes, I categorized the material into sections I had already memorized and those I hadn’t fully mastered yet. I would then try to recall the information from memory with the paper covered, and only review the parts I couldn’t recall to fill in the gaps. Once the semester began and time became scarce, I focused on using spare moments—such as breaks—to review the material repeatedly, even if only briefly.
Thanks to this morning and evening review routine, the material I had memorized became increasingly solid, and I was able to fully master even the content I initially struggled with through repetition. By building a solid foundation of basic theory through repeated memorization, I was able to minimize mistakes even on high-scoring questions. Above all, I learned that memorization is not a one-time effort but a process that is perfected through consistent repetition.
Major Campus Activities and Reflections
Expanding My Horizons Through the Advertising Club — I joined the advertising club because I thought I was creative. Since childhood, I’d been told I was a quick learner, and people around me often complimented me on being “smart,” so I was confident in my ability to engage in creative activities. However, as I participated in the club, I realized that my ideas were still lacking and my critical thinking skills weren’t yet solid enough. In particular, my clubmates who aspired to major in advertising possessed outstanding creativity and critical thinking skills, as well as a wealth of knowledge gained through reading. In contrast, I preferred activities like assembling machines, so I didn’t stand out on assignments that required humanities-oriented thinking.
Early in my club activities, when I was assigned a writing task, I couldn’t figure out how to approach it and even thought about giving up. However, not wanting to miss out on the new knowledge and inspiration I was gaining, I decided to tackle the assignments slowly, even though I felt inadequate. While many of my friends wrote creatively for about one page, I felt I lacked creativity, so I tried to make up for it with quantity, sometimes submitting as many as ten pages. At the same time, I made an effort to read books every day, even if only a little at a time, to develop my critical thinking skills.
Back then, I had a dream of becoming a computer programmer, so I sometimes heard advice from those around me that “all I needed to do was build up my computer knowledge.” However, I believed that to work on a broader stage, I needed not only computer knowledge but also knowledge across various fields and creativity. So, with the goal of broadening my perspective through my experience in the advertising club, I poured even more passion into my activities.
Learning to Embrace Challenges — Preparing for the advertising club’s annual events was both a major challenge and an opportunity for growth. To promote the school festival and produce a promotional video for the following year, we had to secure sponsorships from local merchants. To request sponsorship, I had to visit shops in person, holding a note and asking for financial support—and for someone as introverted as me, bringing up the topic of money with people was a huge burden. However, driven by my passion for the club, I didn’t shy away from it; instead, I walked into the stores myself and began my promotional efforts.
At first, I was nervous and found it difficult, but as I kept pushing through the challenge, I gradually even began to enjoy the experience. Through the process of communicating directly with people and persuading them, I gained confidence and learned not to shrink back in the face of challenges. This experience went beyond mere participation; it helped me develop practical skills, a positive attitude toward others, and a mindset that isn’t afraid of failure.
Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Helping a Classmate with a Leg Disability Get to School — There was a classmate in my class whose one leg was thinner and shorter than the other, making it difficult for them to walk. The difference in leg length was a result of aftereffects from polio, and the fact that they had to climb a steep hill to get to school made the situation even more heartbreaking. The hill at our school was wide and steep, making it difficult even for wheelchairs or vehicles to climb. When it snowed, vehicles couldn’t make it up at all, so getting to and from school was always a struggle for that classmate.
We would occasionally run into him when he arrived early for school and chat, and I learned that he came early on purpose to avoid being late. Hearing that, I naturally decided I had to help him. At first, he refused my help, saying he didn’t want to be a burden, but when the rainy season arrived, he needed someone to hold an umbrella over him and someone to walk beside him to keep him from slipping. To help him, I went to his house to persuade him, and from then on, I walked to school with him every day, serving as his umbrella and support.
At first, he was reluctant to open up, but he gradually warmed to me and accepted me as a friend. While I offered small acts of help, like carrying his bag, he opened up to me and shared his perspective on life. Through our conversations, I realized how immature and narrow-minded my own thoughts had been, and this experience became an opportunity to rethink my approach to life. I learned that there is much to gain when people from different backgrounds open up to one another and build friendships, and that experience has helped me develop a deeper sense of respect and consideration toward others.
