In this blog post, we’ll examine the original personal statement of a student who applied to the Department of Mold Design Engineering at Kongju National University, summarizing their academic efforts during high school, school activities, volunteer experiences, career goals, and academic plans for college.

Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences

To prepare for the Industrial Technician exam in injection mold design, I chose to major in mold machining and enrolled in a mechanical engineering high school located far from where I lived at the time, where I studied while living in a dormitory. Although I often felt lonely spending so much time studying alone away from home, I found it rewarding to be preparing for my future by pursuing the studies I wanted. I was particularly interested in the field of injection mold design, so I set a goal to pass the Industrial Technician exam during my high school years and obtain a professional certification.
To achieve this, I joined the school’s preparatory class for the Injection Mold Design Industrial Technician exam, where I took structured classes with friends who shared the same goal and received guidance from our teacher. We selected textbooks related to the certification and studied the theory while simultaneously working through past exam questions. Compared to studying alone, we were able to increase our learning efficiency by asking questions when we didn’t understand something and helping each other solve problems.
In the prep class, we systematically studied mold design processes, mold manufacturing processes, and precision measurement and inspection. We combined design and manufacturing, conducting design drawing exercises when necessary and participating in the manufacturing process to deepen our understanding. In the design course, we studied press die design and injection mold design; for press dies, we covered machining types, component functions, and shearing and drawing dies, while injection molds focused primarily on plastic molds.
In the mold manufacturing course, I studied mold machining, plastic forming, cutting theory, lathe, milling, and grinding processes, gear machining, CNC machining methods, the properties and classification of metallic materials, steel materials, and new materials, ensuring I was thoroughly prepared. Thanks to this preparation, it took me less than a year to pass the Industrial Technician exam and obtain my certification.

Extracurricular Activities: Preparation for the National High School 3D CAD Modeling Skills Competition

My core major at Mechanical Engineering High School was CAD modeling, and since there were many external competitions related to my field, I gained experience by participating in skills competitions every year. Our school was equipped with the latest design software—including AutoCAD, UG, Pro-E, CATIA, and CAE—as well as prototyping equipment such as 3D high-speed machining centers and RP machines, allowing us to conduct hands-on training covering the entire process from drafting to modeling and prototyping.
To prepare for competitions, we typically participated in preparatory classes, and classmates who felt they needed additional support sometimes attended external academies. I believed that mastering a skill ultimately depends on oneself, so I trusted the school’s curriculum and focused on consistently practicing and repeating modeling-related conditional design and creative design.
AutoCAD was the software I used most frequently when I first started 3D modeling, and creating 3D models in CAD required a great deal of patience and concentration. At first, I wasn’t able to pay attention to the finer details, but under the guidance of my prep class instructor, my skills gradually improved. By emulating existing works and referencing techniques, I designed equipment such as roll forming machines and high-speed cutters. After modeling, I would apply color to the models and repeat the process of visually verifying the three-dimensional appearance of the actual machines.
As I became more familiar with the process of converting 2D drawings into 3D models, I developed the ability to visualize three-dimensional forms from two-dimensional planes. Conversely, I also acquired the skill to reverse-engineer 2D and 1D drawings from completed 3D models. Once my skills had matured, I sketched a V8 engine for automobiles and created 3D models and drawings using AutoCAD. Aiming to enter a competition, I produced a motion simulation that visually demonstrated the engine’s operating principles and reverse-engineering methods, which attracted attention from those around me. Later, I submitted a motorcycle plastic model kit, which was selected as an outstanding design, giving me a great sense of fulfillment.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation: School Lunch Volunteer Work

I learned that there were children from families receiving basic livelihood support at an elementary school near my school, and I heard that they often had to rely on convenience stores for their evening meals, so they needed help. In particular, upon hearing that securing meals became even more difficult during school breaks, I wanted to lend a hand. The school had a program where volunteers provided meals at a center where these children gathered regularly, so I participated.
The meal service volunteer work consisted of various activities, including serving meals, menu development, and cooking. During the school term, I helped serve meals, and when volunteers were short-handed, I would visit the center with friends after classes on weekdays or on weekends to serve side dishes and rice, as well as wash dishes and clean the dining hall. When necessary, I also developed meal menus and prepared the food myself.
During school breaks, we requested that the center open the cafeteria for a day to invite the children, and we developed two meal menus focused on the children’s favorite dishes while taking nutrition into account. One menu consisted of shrimp fried rice, kimchi pancakes, homemade dumplings, and fruit salad, while the other consisted of vegetable bibimbap, steamed eggs, tofu miso soup, and sikhye. I invested a great deal of time and effort into purchasing, preparing, and cooking the ingredients. In particular, I sourced fresh ingredients—such as fruit, shrimp, vegetables, and sikhye—from outside vendors and began preparing them well in advance. Seeing the young children enjoy their meals gave me a great sense of fulfillment.

Career Goals, Motivation for Applying, and Academic Plans After Entering College

My dream is to become a precision design engineer in the metal and machinery field, specifically a mold design engineer. I set this goal clearly even before entering high school. Since my father works as a design engineer and has extensive experience and relevant certifications in drawing design, mechanical design, and machinery inspection, I was exposed to a great deal of information about this field from a young age. With my father’s advice and guidance, I worked hard to obtain relevant certifications in high school; after earning the Industrial Engineer certification in Injection Mold Design, I competed in a skills competition and won an award.
It was this clear sense of purpose that led me to apply to the Department of Mold Design Engineering at Kongju National University. After entering university, I plan to study injection molds and 3D modeling in greater depth and systematically pursue practical training. Since much of what I learned in high school was basic and the practical training was focused on college entrance exams, I want to use my time in college not just to study for exams, but to delve deeply into genuine specialized knowledge. I look forward to the experience of immersing myself in my major all day long, reading introductory textbooks in the library.
The field of mold design is applied to a wide range of industries—including electrical and electronic products; transportation machinery such as automobiles, railways, ships, and aircraft; semiconductors, telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, precision machinery, and optical devices; as well as agricultural and construction equipment and toys—so choosing a career path and defining a specialized field is crucial. As related tasks are becoming increasingly complex and precise, it is necessary to decide on one’s field early on and practice consistently. Currently, I am interested in the production of automotive engines and related machinery, as well as the electrical and electronic components used in automobiles, with a focus on injection molds.