This blog post examines the core experiences that must be included in an academic plan for cultural anthropology. It provides specific guidance on how exposure to diverse cultures, field experiences, and language learning shape one’s academic direction.
Reasons for Choosing the Major
During my sophomore year at ○○ High School, I participated in a cultural exchange program that invited foreign students from schools partnered with my alma mater. Experiencing diverse Korean cultures alongside students from around the world created cherished memories. This program allowed me to learn about other cultures and see things from the perspective of people from those countries. I came to realize that adopting a cultural relativist attitude is an essential process for stepping outside the confines of one’s own culture.
Only by confronting other cultures can one realize that one’s own cultural values are not absolute, and that one’s way of life is neither unique nor inevitable. This experience of reflecting on myself through unfamiliar cultures sparked my interest in cultural anthropology. As I contemplated my career path, I developed a desire to continue studying this field. In the new space of ‘university,’ I aspire to become a young person who engages in deep study for my dreams, interacts with others in a different environment and among new friends, and dreams of a broader world.
Academic Plan and Goals
I recall a passage written by a professor in your university’s Department of Cultural Anthropology: culture is not something you can study by sitting down; you must immerse yourself within it, feel it directly, and observe it. It means that studying culture from outside it cannot properly capture the unique context and meaning inherent to that culture. Therefore, if I am admitted to the Department of Cultural Anthropology, I plan to travel frequently to directly experience the cultures of Northeast Asian countries. While cultural anthropology explores culture, it is fundamentally rooted in humanistic thought. Thus, I also plan to participate in volunteer activities with affection for people and my neighbors.
I wish to participate in your university’s exchange program to gain a heartfelt understanding of Japanese culture and build practical Japanese language skills through daily life. While the burden of tuition and living expenses in Japan might make this difficult without scholarship support, I will strive to earn scholarships by excelling in my coursework and language studies. Not stopping there, I will study the languages of other East Asian countries—a second foreign language—to understand their cultures and build the fundamental skills needed to become an international scholar.
Post-Graduation Plans
My dream is to become a scholar researching Northeast Asian cultures, an area I’ve always been passionate about. I understand that to globalize Korean values, comparative research with the cultures of China and Japan—countries neighboring Korea that share similar cultural spheres—is essential. Through in-depth research into these cultures, I wish to lay the groundwork for contributing to the development of relations between Korea and other Northeast Asian nations. I aspire to play a role in viewing the Asian region from a global perspective and discovering, researching, and collecting cultural resources that can communicate with the world.
Based on the knowledge gained through this research process, I will become a Korean talent who contributes to understanding modern Korean society and promoting its future development. To achieve this dream, I will strive even harder than I have up to now.
Self-Introduction (Life Philosophy, Values)
Since childhood, I have often been told that I think deeply beyond my years. I believe this stems from my habit of constantly reflecting on the stories I read, cultivated through extensive reading. Through reading, I have gained broad knowledge about human existence and essence, lifestyles and culture, and the order of objects and the universe.
Reading has helped me acquire knowledge, cultivate my emotions, and recognize the true value of life, thereby assisting me in developing a sound character and forming the desirable human qualities needed to live a mature life.
In high school, I joined a 100-book reading club and began approaching books with a pure purpose. Books unrelated to my major—natural science texts, histories, and humanities and philosophy works—provided opportunities to reflect on my life and organize my thoughts, offering the joy of gaining new insights daily. I felt my empathy improve, my attitude toward life change, and even my personality shift, while an insight into observing the world began to develop.
That’s why I never put books down, and even when contemplating my career path, I read books related to the field while pondering my choices. Now that I’m a university student, I have more free time than I did in high school. I want to keep reading records, such as writing book reviews, and share meaningful passages with those around me.
