In this blog post, I’ll present a revised version of the personal statement I wrote for my application to the Department of Architecture at Kwangwoon University, in which I’ve refined the sentences and flow to improve readability and persuasiveness.
Describing Academic Experiences and Reflections
While pursuing my dream of becoming an architect, I fundamentally changed my study methods, and that process completely transformed my attitude toward learning. After struggling to understand two-dimensional drawings in three dimensions, I devised a method of creating cubic models myself, cutting them in various ways to create floor plans. I applied these models to various geometric shapes, cutting and unfolding forms that might appear on exams, and consistently practiced by creating one new shape each day.
At first, I could only solve problems by physically building the models, but through repeated practice, I gradually became able to visualize three-dimensional forms in my mind and solve problems without actually constructing them. While this process might seem trivial to others, it was an essential skill for me as someone seeking to work with space. In particular, when simplifying complex explanations in math or physics problems through drawings, my habit of thinking in three dimensions helped reduce the number of wrong answers and gave me the confidence to visualize three-dimensional shapes while looking at diagrams.
While this study method may not be suitable for everyone, I chose it because it aligned with my long-term goals, and it ultimately helped improve my grades. Above all, I learned that when you have a clear goal, you can consistently identify your weaknesses and make a sustained effort to improve them.
Write about major school activities and reflections
My involvement in the photography club helped me develop the habit of observing architecture and compiling it as reference material. Although I didn’t originally enjoy photography, I joined the club because I wanted to capture and preserve more images of buildings and landscapes as reference material.
While my friends focused on landscapes or portraits, I concentrated on photographing nearby houses and buildings. I organized the printed photos into a scrapbook by theme, analyzing the characteristics of each building in my own way and jotting down notes. On weekends and holidays, I reviewed my scrapbook to summarize the structural and functional features, and as time went on, the content of my scrapbook became increasingly rich.
When visiting Buddhist temples, I didn’t just take in the overall view; I carefully photographed and observed the fine details, which helped me develop my powers of observation. Through my club activities, I gained the ability to see even the streets I walked every day in a new light. What I gained from the club went beyond simple photography skills; it was a sense of on-site observation—something hard to acquire from books—and a method for independently accumulating data.
I realized that the effectiveness of what I learned depended on how I applied it, and I truly came to appreciate the importance of the experience of seeing and documenting things firsthand. For these reasons, my participation in the photography club was one of the most meaningful school activities during my high school years.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
I also learned the importance of consideration and taking action through small, seemingly ordinary acts of kindness. One day on my way home from school, I saw an elderly woman pulling a heavy cart who had dropped some of her belongings. At first, I hesitated. Seeing others immediately step in to help made me feel ashamed, and that incident inspired me to resolve to be the first to offer assistance whenever someone needed help.
For tasks that were too difficult to handle alone, I enlisted the help of my friends, and my perspective on giving also changed. I used to think that donating required large sums of money, but I began taking action by consistently saving even small amounts to donate to organizations that support elderly people living alone and by sending hats through Save the Children.
Through this process, I learned that growth and development are possible even by starting with small actions, and I realized that change occurs when one’s mindset translates into action. Academically, I’ve adopted the mindset that good results will follow if I simply do my best with diligence, rather than obsessing over outcomes.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
The process of deciding on my career path and preparing for it, as well as my plans after entering college, are concrete. Inspired by a program called “Love House,” I began dreaming of becoming an architect, and since then, I’ve studied to develop the skills necessary for that profession.
Without neglecting my academic studies, I focused particularly on mathematics and physics—the foundations of architecture—and, through club activities, compiled a scrapbook of materials to supplement areas not covered in the school curriculum. The 3U (U-design) educational goals of the Department of Architecture at Kwangwoon University and its educational philosophy, which pursues harmony among humans, nature, and architecture, align with my own vision of architecture based on mutual prosperity, which is why I wish to continue my studies here.
Once admitted, I plan to refine the foundation I built on my own in high school under the guidance of outstanding professors and systematically acquire new specialized knowledge. I intend to continue organizing my scrapbook to accumulate materials, review what I’ve learned to make it my own, and then take on the challenge of model-making.
Specifically, I plan to solidify my foundation during my freshman year and, starting in my sophomore year, create one model each year to gain hands-on experience. In addition, I plan to consistently learn CAD/CAM design software through classes and other programs starting in my freshman year to develop my own expertise.
In the long term, after gaining practical experience in the industry, I hope to establish my own architecture firm within 10 years to realize the kind of architecture I envision, and to help raise awareness of the Department of Architecture at Kwangwoon University among a wider audience.
