This blog post introduces methods for naturally and persuasively weaving your major knowledge into your application essay when applying to the marine bio field.
Growth Background and Family Environment
“Listening attentively to lectures no one else hears.”
Even now, I sometimes wonder why I was so sleepy during my youth. The moment class started, drowsiness would inevitably wash over me like an alarm clock. So I always had to cling to a cup of coffee. But my circumstances back then didn’t allow for cram school, making school classes my only study time. I understood well that concentrating in class was the shortcut to good grades and the nourishment for my future. So I tried my best to listen attentively even in ‘classes no one pays attention to’.
As second year of high school passed and third year approached, even students who usually neglected their studies would tense up and sit down at their desks in earnest. But during that time, most focused only on major subjects like Korean, English, and Math, often treating subjects like art, physical education, or second foreign languages as unimportant. For instance, during Chinese class, even when the teacher taught diligently, students were generally indifferent, and teachers didn’t insist on demanding their full attention. Instead, they often tolerated or even encouraged students to solve math or English problems during that time.
Despite this, I believed that since Chinese class was only two hours a week, I should properly study with the teacher during that time. So I participated wholeheartedly in class and invested time preparing diligently for exams. As a result, I not only achieved good grades but also smoothly obtained a Chinese language certification based on that study. Thanks to this, after entering university, I could work part-time as a Chinese interpreter and save up tuition relatively quickly.
Through this experience, I gained an important realization. There is no such thing as a useless endeavor in this world, and if you give your all to the tasks right in front of you, the day will inevitably come when that effort pays off. Since then, I have held the belief that ‘the repetition of small daily actions shapes our lives, and those lives collectively form our existence.’ To this day, I live faithfully to uphold that belief.
Experience Overcoming Difficulties and Effort
“Filling the void left by my mother.”
In my first year of high school, a time when my sensitivity was heightened and I should have been fully focused on my studies, a major change came upon me. One day, my mother suddenly left home. Deepening conflicts with my father, particularly over religious differences, led her to pack her belongings and walk out. The family left behind seemed frozen in shock. My father grew increasingly silent, spending many days staring into space and sighing deeply. My brother and I were left floundering, unsure how to handle the situation. Eventually, my brother began showing signs of depression, skipping school and locking himself in his room for days on end. Yet, caught up in his busy routine, my father had no spare time to pay close attention to my brother’s state. Ultimately, someone had to step up. I felt that responsibility fell to me.
The first thing I started doing was cooking rice. Since Mom had always handled all the housework, I didn’t even know how to iron my own clothes, let alone cook rice. So I mustered the courage to visit the lady next door and began learning how to cook rice and make simple side dishes. Using the skills I learned, I started preparing meals for the family from that day onward. When I set the table, my family seemed a bit surprised at first, but I thought, ‘A good start begins with a good meal,’ and poured my heart into every meal.
To break the quiet atmosphere during meals, I started initiating conversations. It felt awkward and cautious at first, but as time passed, my family gradually opened up, and even my father slowly began joining in. Bit by bit, as we shared conversations, the walls between us began to crumble. Then one day, my father called my mother first. Of course, not all problems were solved instantly, but the restoration of our severed relationship began with that small step.
This experience was the most difficult period of my life, yet also the time I learned the most. As physically exhausting as it was, my heart grew weary too. But through that time, I gained a crucial realization: No matter the conflict, it can ultimately be resolved through conversation. To start that conversation, it takes courage to begin with even the smallest changes. What some might consider the trivial ‘power of a single meal’ became the catalyst that brought our family back together. For me, this experience remains an unforgettable, precious memory.
School Life
“Someone who doesn’t miss out on either studies or relationships”
Entering university, my greatest expectation was to gain diverse experiences. Among these, what I most wanted was simply ‘making new friends’. Having attended middle and high schools under the same foundation since elementary school, most of my friends were people I’d known since childhood. Of course, just because they were old friends didn’t mean their personalities or tendencies remained unchanged, but within an increasingly familiar environment, I began to yearn for new stimuli and encounters. Therefore, in college, I wanted to mingle with diverse people from completely different backgrounds and with varied perspectives. On the other hand, I also had a strong desire to encounter a broader world academically.
To fulfill both these wishes, the method I chose was club activities. I participated in two clubs: a science club and a marine sports club. This allowed me to interact with people of different personalities and accumulate experiences in different ways. In the science club, I solidified my foundational knowledge of experiments and had the chance to try various approaches. Through interactions with passionate seniors, I encountered new fields and deepened my academic understanding. Conversely, the marine sports club allowed me to bond with energetic and cheerful people through physical activities. In the process, I met individuals with personalities and backgrounds as different as night and day, experiencing a broad spectrum of human relationships.
Through these two activities, I strove to achieve balance in both my studies and personal relationships, going beyond simply making friends. I approached my coursework diligently, while during club activities and leisure time, I actively engaged with others to embrace new stimuli. As a result, I achieved satisfactory grades and served as president for both clubs, leading juniors and building strong relationships with seniors.
University life was not merely an extension of studying for me, but a process of learning about people and life itself. Interacting with individuals possessing diverse thoughts and lifestyles broadened my horizons and cultivated the flexibility to adapt to and enjoy any environment. Looking back now, I realize my choice to not neglect either academics or relationships has become an invaluable asset.
Reason for Applying
“I aspire to work at Samsung, a leader in Korean industry.”
Above all, Samsung is a company that maintains a leading position across domestic industries, and it has always been a source of great admiration for me. I was amazed not only by its top-ranking position in every field but also by its vast business network built on overwhelming technological prowess. Samsung’s corporate culture, particularly its principle of ‘fair compensation based on performance,’ left a strong impression on me. I felt a desire to demonstrate my abilities in an environment that recognizes individual effort.
Furthermore, Samsung is achieving remarkable results in the global market and continues to experience rapid growth. Within me lies a passion to grow alongside this company at the heart of such change and achievement. I chose Samsung to join this journey, specifically applying as a new graduate in the Marine Bio division, which aligns best with my major.
I understand that the first thing Samsung looks for when evaluating talent is ‘drive’. I have personal experience overcoming family hardships during my youth. Throughout my university years, I covered all tuition and living expenses independently. To achieve this, I juggled various part-time jobs while also excelling academically, earning scholarships every semester. During this time, I cultivated a strong sense of responsibility, perseverance, and the ability to push myself forward.
Furthermore, despite being a woman, I possess the physical stamina, spirit of challenge, and fearless courage to enjoy various water sports. I believe these experiences and traits align well with Samsung’s vision of expanding into overseas markets. I am prepared to work diligently and responsibly as part of Samsung’s continuously evolving team. I aspire to grow together and create valuable results. Thank you.
Future Vision
“My calling is to save lives.”
As energy resources deplete at an accelerating pace, the marine bio industry is gaining attention as a new alternative. This innovative field emerges by integrating IT technology with the boundless potential of the ocean, offering solutions beyond mere technological development—solutions for humanity’s survival and future. For instance, representative achievements include the ‘Aqua Cell Electrolysis Sterilization System’ that produces clean sterilized water by electrolysis of seawater, ‘Seawater Ice Manufacturing Technology’ that produces ice from seawater, and technology enabling real-time monitoring of fish migration routes and group dynamics via mobile phones. These are not merely theoretical concepts but are being utilized as practical resources.
In this way, the marine bio industry is unlocking new possibilities for resources through relentless research and development. I wish to connect my role and expertise in this field to the mission of ‘saving lives’. The ocean remains an unknown realm holding boundless potential, and in this era of dwindling energy resources, it is an area that must be deeply explored and developed.
If given the opportunity to work as a new employee in Samsung’s marine bio industry sector, I will approach my duties with a profound sense of responsibility, pouring all my passion and capabilities into my work with utmost sincerity. I am confident in my ability to demonstrate the diverse ideas I have prepared thus far through tangible results, and I will be someone who repays trust with concrete achievements.
I ask for your belief in my determination and vision, and your continued support. Thank you.
