In this blog post, I’ll summarize how my determination and preparation for my career took shape through my academic experiences, school activities, and instances of consideration and cooperation during my high school years.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

For a while during high school, I really hated studying. It felt like a burden, and I struggled because I couldn’t understand why I had to go through that pain just to study. The idea that “I have to study to discover what I’m capable of” actually put even more pressure on me, and I often felt helpless amid that inner turmoil.
Then, a Bible verse I came across by chance—the statement, “Loving only those you like is not true love”—resonated deeply with me. When I applied that verse to my own situation, I realized that an attitude of choosing to do only what I liked was not wholehearted—neither as a person of faith nor as a human being. I came to the realization that even tasks I disliked should be willingly accepted if they were things I ought to do.
After that realization, my attitude began to change little by little. When I started viewing studying not as a “pain I had to endure” but as “something I should do,” my sense of burden lessened, and I actually spent more time studying. Before, I would sigh the moment I had to memorize something or solve a math problem, but as that mindset softened, I naturally began to enjoy opening my books.
As I began to feel a sense of small accomplishment in the process of studying itself, I gradually developed an interest, and my grades improved as well. As the joy I felt from solving problems—much like putting together a puzzle—accumulated, studying ceased to be a source of torment for me. This experience—where a single shift in mindset transformed both my attitude toward studying and my results—served as a valuable lesson for me.

Major School Activities and Reflections

I’ve loved the piano since I was young, and because I learned faster than others, I naturally expected to devote myself to it. However, due to my family’s financial situation, it was difficult to major in piano. So, I told my parents that instead of attending an arts high school, I wanted to enroll in a general humanities high school while maintaining my piano skills, and as a result, I ended up serving as the accompanist for the school choir.
My initial motivation for becoming the choir accompanist was simple. Since we didn’t have a piano at home, I had few opportunities to practice, and I was worried my skills would get rusty, so I wanted to keep my hands on the keys. However, as I continued this activity, I began to find great joy in the act of accompanying itself. When my friends expressed the joy of singing through my accompaniment, I shared in that joy as well.
The emotion I felt when we finally mastered a difficult piece together in the choir was indescribable. The sense of accomplishment we experienced after harmonizing our voices through endless practice and bringing it all together in a performance helped me let go of the idea that I had given up on music and gave me hope once again. At that moment, the Department of Church Music at Chongshin University—which I had learned about through a senior at church—came strongly to mind, and I felt a desire to use my joy and abilities to serve the music of the church.
While balancing my choir activities with serving as the accompanist for my class, I experienced a different kind of challenge and fulfillment. Many of my classmates struggled with singing or staying in tune, but the more I simplified the accompaniment and adjusted it so the melody stood out clearly, the more they gradually caught up. The process of toning down the flashiness and helping my classmates sing comfortably was a great joy in itself.
What I gained through my activities in the choir and as a class accompanist was not merely technical proficiency. The experience of listening to others’ voices and adjusting my playing accordingly was a lesson in cooperation and consideration, and it taught me the joy of building community through music. These experiences served as a practical catalyst that led me to seriously consider a path where I would be responsible for the church’s music.

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

At school, there was a small prayer meeting that gathered on Wednesday lunchtimes and Friday evenings. Since the group had just started, attendance was very low at first; fewer than ten people attended the very first meeting, which was held in a corner of the music room. I was one of them.
Nevertheless, I had a vague belief that this group would grow. I thought that ten people could become twenty, then fifty, and that someday more than a hundred worshippers could gather, so I continued to evangelize consistently. During that time, I met a friend who was struggling with particularly complex emotions. He was someone who was always aggressive toward others and had trouble getting along with people; it seemed even the teachers had given up on him.
At first, he would sometimes refuse to attend the prayer meetings or even ignore my invitations. But I didn’t give up; I prayed every day and gradually reached out to him. I wanted to understand what was hurting him and causing him distress, and I wanted to pray with him. After my persistent care and prayers, he agreed to come to a meeting just once, and he gradually began attending more often.
As time went on, he started asking for prayer and opening up about his pain. When I learned of the deep wounds related to their family circumstances, my heart ached, and I prayed sincerely for them. After that, they became even more dedicated to attending the meetings than I was, and I became convinced that consistently helping someone can bring about real change.
Through this experience, I learned the power of compassion and dedication. I realized that the desire to nurture a small group and the sustained care for a single person ultimately transform lives and build a community. I also gained confidence that I have a calling as a servant of the Lord.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

My involvement in the choir, serving as an accompanist, and volunteering at prayer meetings had a significant impact on shaping my career path. The experience of helping others through the piano and serving the community’s worship felt like more than just a hobby—it felt like a calling—and led me to seriously consider a path of serving church music.
My interest in the Department of Church Music at Chongshin University naturally stemmed from these experiences. My desire to use the joy and abilities I have experienced to care for the church’s music became my motivation for applying, and I have prepared myself by consistently practicing as an accompanist and refining a musical approach that is considerate of others.
Moving forward, I intend to cultivate my intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth in a balanced way, further refining my skills in accompaniment and choral direction to dedicate myself to the church’s music ministry. The accompaniment experience I gained at school and my practical involvement in prayer meetings have provided me with a solid foundation, and building on this, I plan to steadily prepare myself to serve a broader community.