In this blog post, we’ll present sample personal statements for applicants to the Department of Nursing at Kongju National University, organized by category—including academic efforts, campus activities, examples of compassion and service, and career goals.
Writing About Academic Experiences and Reflections
The Importance of Pre-Study: When studying, I tend to understand material better after reviewing it four or five times rather than grasping it immediately upon first reading, so I placed great importance on review. However, reviewing the same material multiple times left me short on time, which led me to consider more efficient study methods. So, I adopted the practice of previewing the material before class, believing that previewing it about twice beforehand would cut my post-class review time roughly in half. To do this, I used my textbook and reference materials to organize the content to be covered in class in advance. As a result, I was able to naturally review the material I already knew during class.
After previewing, I was able to understand the teacher’s explanations more quickly, and my concentration during class improved significantly. Thanks to the reduced review time, I was able to invest the extra time in other studies, and because I was focused in class, my teacher provided me with more instruction and useful information. This study method allowed me to use my study time efficiently and increase my focus in class, which ultimately led to an improvement in my overall grades.
The Power of Trust: The trust of my parents and teachers was a major driving force that kept me studying. Even when my grades weren’t good, my parents cheered me on in my journey to discover my dreams rather than focusing on the grades themselves, which helped relieve my stress and allowed me to steadily improve my grades.
Additionally, by staying focused and participating diligently in class, I caught my teacher’s attention and earned their trust; wanting to repay that trust, I studied even harder. The trust I received from others served as a strong motivator for me, and their encouragement became the driving force that kept me striving consistently.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
Participation in Volunteer Work for Elderly People Living Alone: Through my school’s volunteer program, I consistently participated in volunteer work for elderly people living alone. The activities mainly involved providing items to help with daily life and offering companionship. At first, many of the elderly were wary of me. However, as I visited repeatedly and made a sincere effort to listen and communicate, they gradually opened up to me, and some even showed their appreciation for my concern by going out of their way to be considerate toward me.
As the volunteer coordinator noted, I realized that for people living alone, loneliness is a greater problem than physical discomfort. Every time I visited, I tried to alleviate their loneliness even a little, and through this process, I truly came to understand that sincerity is a greater help than material goods. This experience solidified my conviction that, as a nurse, I want to take the lead in comforting, reassuring, and helping to heal others.
Emergency Standby Volunteer Work at Events Such as Sports Days and Marathons: I consistently assisted the school nurse by providing emergency standby support for injured students during school events. Various emergencies occurred during activities like sports days, marathons, and field trips—ranging from injuries caused by falls to breathing difficulties—and since it was difficult for the single school nurse to handle every situation alone, I stepped in to help more actively.
On-site, I was responsible for delivering necessary supplies, disinfecting wounds, and providing basic first aid, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment watching my friends recover. Even in my daily life, whenever I had free time, I helped the nurse in the infirmary and encouraged my friends. Through this, I learned that nursing is not merely about healing physical pain, but also about comforting the heart and alleviating anxiety. This experience was an opportunity for me to reflect on the mindset required to become a true nurse.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed sharing and doing things together with others. Believing that joy is multiplied when we come together, I found happiness in sharing what I had, what I enjoyed, and interesting experiences with my friends during my school years. In particular, I made a point of sharing cultural activities to help friends who were exhausted from studying take a break and refresh their spirits.
I documented experiences like visiting art museums or reading books through photos and writing to share with my friends. Although selecting photos of artworks and summarizing book plots and my reflections took time, I prepared diligently out of a desire to share these experiences with them. My friends appreciated how these activities helped clear their minds, and by adding my own explanations of the artworks, I was able to provide them with a vicarious experience, as if we had visited the museum together. At first, I was worried my friends might think it was unnecessary, but they empathized and were delighted. I realized that when you give with a pure heart, the emotional reward you receive in return is even greater.
Through this experience, I resolved to continue living a life of sincere generosity and to maintain an attitude of sharing in others’ joy.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I clearly discovered my aptitude and dream of becoming a nurse through volunteer work with elderly people living alone and through school health services. I developed a desire to become a nurse who goes beyond simply providing physical assistance to instill hope and courage in patients and convey empathy and comfort; to realize this dream, I applied to the Department of Nursing at Kongju National University.
I believe nursing is a noble mission that respects life and upholds human dignity. I will live with integrity and strive to fulfill my role as a healthcare professional with sincerity and dedication. As a student in the Department of Nursing at Kongju National University, I will steadily build a foundation of general education and major-specific knowledge, grounded in respect for life.
To develop my nursing competencies, I will first thoroughly master specialized nursing knowledge while striving to cultivate critical and efficient thinking. Furthermore, I will develop my communication and teamwork skills and familiarize myself with the legal and ethical standards of nursing practice to ensure I am well-prepared to adapt to clinical rotations and clinical settings.
I will actively participate in nursing clinical rotations to enhance my clinical nursing skills and situational response abilities, and I will seek opportunities to demonstrate leadership to cultivate the sense of responsibility and organizational skills required in the field. In particular, since communication skills with doctors, patients, and hospital staff are crucial elements of nursing practice, I will continuously work on self-development through both on-campus and off-campus activities during my college years.
As a nurse who provides courage and comfort to patients, I will do my best to enhance the quality of care, taking a firm stance when necessary. I will consistently strive to be a source of comfort to patients through empathy and compassion.
