In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned, focusing on the academic efforts I made, my participation in school activities, and my experiences with compassion and giving during my time in high school.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

I have a quiet and easygoing personality, so I tended to appear calm on the surface. However, I was prone to feeling deeply frustrated when I failed to stick to my plans, and since I strive for perfection in the tasks I undertake, I possess strong focus and dedication. At first, I viewed this personality trait as a weakness, but I eventually realized that if I could find and apply study methods suited to my nature, it could actually become a strength.
After several attempts, the method I discovered was the principle of “setting one goal each day.” After taking practice exams, I used my score reports to accurately identify my weaknesses and strengths in each subject. Based on that analysis, I set broad monthly goals, broke them down into weekly plans by subject, and specified my daily goals.
In practice, I divided my subjects into English, Math, Korean, History, and Science, and structured my daily routine to solve 10 problems per subject each day and review my mistakes. For example, if the first week was an “English Focus Week,” I would create a vocabulary list for the week, memorize a set amount each day, and dedicate at least two hours a day to vocabulary memorization. I adopted this approach of setting detailed goals and consistently following through on them.
This method suited my tendency toward focus and immersion well, which ultimately led to improved grades and gave me confidence in my studies. Above all, I feel it was crucial to understand my own personality and apply a study method tailored to it. I learned from experience that accurately identifying my weaknesses, creating a plan, and maintaining the discipline to strictly follow that plan led to improved grades.

Major School Activities and Reflections

I joined the debate club because I was deeply impressed by the way the upperclassmen in the club presented their thoughts clearly and courageously. Their attitude toward expressing opinions in front of others made such a strong impression on me that I joined the club immediately, and there I learned many things that would have been difficult to realize on my own.
The most significant lesson I learned through debate was the concept of “differences in perspective.” When reading books or thinking deeply on my own, it’s easy for my thoughts to become trapped within my own perspective. For example, if I read ‘The Little Prince’ and interpret it solely as an inner journey, I might easily assume that others would feel the same way. However, through debate, I experienced firsthand just how diverse other people’s perspectives and interpretations can be.
My first debate topic was “The Crisis in Literature and Its Causes.” As someone who loves literature, it was difficult for me to fully understand why some people neglect it, but through the debate, I heard about the burden and sense of distance others feel toward books. I realized that instead of simply criticizing, I needed to approach the issue from various angles to change people’s perceptions.
Through that experience, I began to think about how to broaden a proper understanding of literature and how to change people’s perceptions. The debate taught me how to reflect on my own thoughts and communicate while respecting others’ perspectives.

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

Our school has a mentor-mentee program, a tradition in which sophomores provide advice to freshmen on school life and academics. I joined the mentor program as soon as I became a sophomore. As a freshman, I learned about the debate club through my mentor, and since that encounter had a profound impact on me, I wanted to pass on a similar experience to the underclassmen.
Every month, I met with first-year students to listen to their concerns and talk with them. They opened up about various issues, such as worries about their appearance and stress over grades. Rather than simply offering advice, I tried to foster deeper empathy and communication by sharing examples and characters I had read about in books, as well as my own personal experiences.
As a result, the students gradually overcame their worries, regained their confidence, and gained the perspective to look beyond themselves. Witnessing the changes in my juniors also gave me an opportunity to reflect on myself. By taking a deep look at the problems they faced from the perspective of a fellow student, I was able to grow as well.
In particular, through conversations inspired by characters in books, I practiced viewing myself objectively, which helped me cultivate the strength to live each day anew and foster a positive mindset. I realized that mentoring isn’t just about helping juniors—it’s a mutual process where we learn from and grow with one another.