This blog post specifically examines how to persuasively write a journalism and broadcasting academic plan, focusing on writing skills.
Writing about academic experiences and reflections
“Let’s cultivate the habit of solving every problem meticulously!”
The aspect I focused on most diligently in my studies was cultivating the habit of solving problems meticulously. While I approached my academics earnestly, I eventually felt my grades had plateaued and stopped improving. Upon careful reflection, I realized the reason was that I was approaching problems by guessing based on intuition, without sufficiently contemplating them or grasping the context. Even though I wasn’t slacking off, my results weren’t good because I lacked the fundamental attitude of properly reading and analyzing problems. So, I began making a special effort to change the habit of solving problems carelessly, which had been ingrained in me since childhood.
The effort I focused on most was cultivating the habit of analyzing problems. I reasoned that if my scores weren’t improving despite having sufficiently mastered the basic concepts and theories, it meant I wasn’t properly grasping the problem types. So, as soon as my sophomore year began, I dug out the notebook of wrong answers I’d compiled throughout my freshman year from all the practice tests I’d taken. I reread the questions I’d gotten wrong and, instead of simply solving them again, started writing down the ‘essence of the problem’ by focusing on why I had gotten them wrong. I organized by question type which types of problems I frequently got wrong in the language, math, and foreign language sections.
As a result, I discovered that in the language section, I often got questions wrong that required integrating multiple passages to compare features; in the math section, I made many calculation errors on basic application problems; and in the foreign language section, I often got confused when reading grammar passages. Once I identified these weaknesses, the direction for my studies became clear. I began practicing by breaking down the context when encountering each problem to precisely grasp what was being asked. I deliberately sought out and solved more problems of similar types, sometimes repeating certain problems over 100 times. Through repetition, I became familiar with the problems and gradually conquered the types that had previously confused me.
This process gradually developed my intuition for the types I struggled with, and by revisiting related theories, I broadened my understanding. What initially felt tedious and burdensome—the habit of solving problems meticulously—became familiar over time. Later, I even found enjoyment in that process. Most importantly, as I directly experienced my grades gradually improving, the relief from the frustration I’d felt was immense.
Looking back, I realized that academic growth isn’t just about knowing a lot, but about how you approach problems and how deeply you engage with them. This experience—meticulously solving problems, repeatedly analyzing mistakes, acknowledging my weaknesses, and striving to overcome them—will be a strong foundation for finding solutions without giving up, no matter what challenges I face in the future.
Major School Activities and Reflections
Broadcasting Club Activities: My Greatest Challenge and Blessing
The distance between my school and home is a three-hour round trip, totaling one hour and thirty minutes each day just for commuting. Despite this, the biggest reason I applied to this high school was its ‘broadcasting club facilities’. After confirming the school’s strong support for the broadcasting club, I chose this school without hesitation, despite the long commute. Naturally, as soon as I was accepted, I applied to join the broadcasting club first and began activities without hesitation.
My passion for broadcasting club activities stemmed from a regret from my middle school days. Not joining the broadcasting club back then always lingered in my mind. Every time I heard the school announcements or music playing, a sense of foreboding and regret would wash over me: ‘I should have been there.’ I deeply regretted not applying sooner. So, I resolved that even though high school would be busy with college prep, I absolutely would not miss out on broadcasting club activities. I wanted to stand before the microphone as an anchor, craft broadcasts myself, and experience a high school life that was distinctly different from my peers.
And indeed, during my first and second years, I truly felt I lived a ‘distinctly different’ time. Broadcasting club activities went beyond being just a club; for me, it was also a ‘struggle with the morning.’ The broadcasting club required gathering early every morning. To prepare for the morning broadcast, I had to arrive at school by at least 6:30 AM, which meant leaving home by 5 AM when the first bus departed. Factoring in preparation time, I had to wake up by 4 AM at the latest. To maintain this schedule, I had to meticulously coordinate every aspect of my life. School homework had to be finished as quickly as possible during breaks or evenings, and upon arriving home, I had to get to bed as soon as possible. Review sessions and performance assessments also had to be completed on time without delay. My biggest challenge was ‘securing time to sleep,’ so every day was a battle against time. Winning that daily battle against myself, I pushed through the dawn to get to school. Except for one day when I was seriously ill, I never arrived late once, establishing myself as the ‘hidden card’ of the broadcasting club.
Being part of the broadcasting club was a special experience that couldn’t be explained by ‘effort’ alone. Through this activity, I learned the joy of ‘communication’. From crafting attention-grabbing announcements to selecting music that complemented the announcements without disrupting the broadcast flow, and adjusting the overall atmosphere—the process was more delicate and creative than I had imagined. Though clumsy at first, I learned step by step under the meticulous and strict guidance of my seniors, and that process was both challenging and immensely enjoyable. Above all, seeing friends listen intently to my scripts, laugh together, and find comfort in them filled me with an indescribable sense of pride.
Especially after becoming an anchor in my sophomore year, I developed a deep sense of pride knowing my voice could start someone’s day and move their emotions. Delivering stories with precise pronunciation, emotion, and a polished voice became a daily joy, and it became a key moment for me to find clues about ‘what I truly wanted to do’. The broadcasting club was not just a club; it was a time of trials and joys, a time of growth, and the very first starting point that illuminated my future path.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation and My Reflections
“Planning and Executing a Fundraiser for a Friend in Difficult Circumstances”
While active in the broadcasting club, I took on the role of delivering news for fellow students once a week. Much like a KBS radio program, I introduced stories of friends in need or heartwarming tales, and sometimes appealed to fellow students for a helping hand. That ‘help’ could be something very small. For instance, it could be a story cheering on a friend’s unrequited love, or conversely, it could be something urgent and serious, like announcing a fundraiser for a friend facing life-threatening circumstances. Therefore, the weekly student news segment was the part of my broadcasting club activities that required the most research, deliberation, and tension.
One experience stands out particularly vividly. It was when I heard about a friend awaiting a heart transplant. While the high cost of treatment for the surgery was desperately needed, the friend was extremely reluctant to have their story made public. I carefully proposed the idea to them after asking for their understanding multiple times, and eventually, with their permission, I planned the fundraiser. After informing fellow students of the situation and starting the fundraising, we were fortunate that many people joined in, allowing us to raise a significant amount. While we couldn’t cover the entire medical cost, it undoubtedly provided considerable help to my friend and their family.
However, what I truly came to deeply understand through this process was that ‘fundraising’ is a complex and delicate endeavor, far more than simply collecting money. While I fully understood the burden and emotions felt by the person needing help, no assistance could begin without addressing those feelings. I remember visiting my friend daily, persuading him by saying, “Your classmates won’t just pity you like you think they will.” Figuring out how to convey his situation to others was also never easy. As the story spread, I was careful with every word to ensure my friend wasn’t hurt. From structuring the story to the broadcast flow, I consulted with teachers, brainstormed with seniors, and made countless revisions. Preparing the broadcast over several weeks, I deeply realized for the first time how much dedication and responsibility a ‘story told with sincerity’ demands.
This experience went beyond a single activity; it made me reflect on the kind of person I aspire to become. Through broadcasting, I felt firsthand the profound value of sharing someone’s story with the world and, in that process, fostering shared empathy and solidarity. Naturally, I developed an interest in broadcasting and journalism. To become someone who can convey these stories more accurately and warmly, I’ve set my sights on majoring in Journalism and Broadcasting and am dedicating myself to my studies.
I learned that helping someone sometimes requires greater consideration and responsibility in the ‘process’ leading up to the help itself than in the act itself. And through this experience, I also gained the belief that sincerity will always reach its destination eventually. Even now, I hope that friend is doing well, and I want to use this writing to once again express my gratitude to all the friends who came together with me at that time.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation and Career Plans
“I aspire to become an anchor who illuminates the times.”
A good anchor saves lives. Furthermore, they can save society. Watching various newsrooms report on the realities of South Korea, where numerous incidents have recently occurred, made me feel this truth even more keenly. While inaccurate reporting can confuse and disappoint many, accurate and sincere reporting can breathe life into a stifling reality and deliver hope. Experiencing these events made me realize how deeply the act of ‘reporting’ impacts people’s lives and society as a whole, far beyond simply conveying facts. Simultaneously, it made me reflect anew on how invaluable my current broadcasting club activities—though perhaps minor for a high schooler—truly were. The sense of mission I felt through broadcasting and the responsibility I felt while covering diverse events solidified my conviction: ‘I must live in this world of broadcasting.’ I believe an anchor is a mirror reflecting the times. I dare say, I began dreaming of that very position. That is why I wish to enroll in the Journalism and Broadcasting Department at ○○ University. My dream is to study and train there, becoming an anchor who accurately illuminates the times. I aspire to be an anchor who thinks thoroughly, reports precisely, and dedicates themselves wholeheartedly to society, becoming a source of hope and courage for people.
To achieve this dream, I have consistently participated in the broadcasting club since my first year of high school. Though small in scale, I approached this activity as my first ‘newsroom experience’. I was never late, and I took even minor tasks seriously with a sense of responsibility. The moment I held the microphone, I felt the weight of my words, and I felt responsible for every single scene that appeared on screen. Furthermore, I believe that to become an anchor, one must possess the ability to accurately interpret the times, and that this ability ultimately stems from the humanities. Therefore, I persistently challenge myself with humanities books, even those that feel difficult. I strive to broaden my knowledge by reading philosophy books from renowned domestic and international universities, as well as works by Korean humanities scholars. Of course, there are many parts I struggle to understand while reading, and I sometimes encounter difficulties. But I endure even those parts, viewing them as part of my growth process. Every morning during my commute, I sacrifice sleep to read, diligently maintaining my reading habit with the goal of ‘reading two books a week’. Through this effort, I want to approach my university classes with a slightly more prepared mindset.
I am constantly learning and growing to become an anchor who reflects the times. My career path and life goal is to become an anchor who possesses language that touches people’s hearts, a perspective that accurately reflects society, and above all, a responsible attitude. I wish to take that first step at ○○ University.
