In this blog post, I have edited and organized the original personal statement submitted for admission to the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Korea University, presenting it in sections that highlight academic efforts, campus activities, examples of consideration and volunteer work, and motivation for application and future aspirations.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
The Key to Understanding Language Lies in Reading I truly enjoy studying languages. I have been consistently studying English and Chinese to this day. Furthermore, to truly understand these foreign languages, one must have a solid grasp of one’s native language, Korean, and the ability to read between the lines. Therefore, I believe that the foundation of all languages lies in the Korean language, and I consider understanding context through extensive reading—rather than exam-focused studying that relies solely on Korean textbooks—to be of utmost importance. I had a natural aptitude for languages, which led to good grades in Korean, and I believe that my strong performance in Korean contributed to my high scores in English and my second foreign language as well. I believe that developing a habit of reading from a young age helped cultivate my linguistic talent, and that talent was reflected in my grades. Furthermore, I believe I achieved my current grades not by relying solely on my talent, but by making a conscious effort to read more and study harder to cultivate that talent. In particular, I made a point of reading extensively outside of exam periods. Understanding context became the foundation that allowed me to grasp all exam questions immediately, and reading also helped me build a diverse foundation of humanities knowledge. I do not believe that studying is something that exists solely for the sake of exams. I view studying as an effort to develop my own abilities, to learn more about myself, and to build my general knowledge and cultural literacy. Therefore, I have approached my high school studies and the management of my grades not merely as a means to raise my scores, but as a way to accumulate the knowledge and cultural literacy that a student can build, and I have strived accordingly. In my future college life, I will also study not for the sake of exams or employment, but for the purpose of self-development to maximize my own abilities. While building my general knowledge and humanities background, I will accumulate knowledge as a student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, and ultimately emerge as a well-rounded member of society.
School Activities and Lessons Learned
Inter-school Debate Competition
I won the school debate competition and advanced to represent my school in the inter-school tournament. Unlike the on-campus debates, I prepared even more diligently under the responsibility of upholding the school’s honor. I resolved that even if I didn’t win, I would speak effectively and refute arguments properly as the school’s representative. I read the assigned books in advance, reviewed them repeatedly to fully grasp the content, and organized the points I would argue for my assigned position. Additionally, I anticipated the opposing team’s challenging questions and prepared responses, but rather than simply memorizing all this material, I studied with the mindset of “internalizing” it. This is because memorization leads to reciting verbatim, which is immediately apparent in a debate. Therefore, I organized the material so that I fully understood it, internalized it, and could speak naturally. Ultimately, this preparation led to my victory, and I attribute this success to the confidence I built by preparing so thoroughly that I could even recite the book’s page numbers. I believe that trembling while speaking stems from nervousness, and nervousness arises from feeling unprepared and anxious. I prepared for the debate so thoroughly that I couldn’t have prepared any further, and since I had prepared anticipated responses to ensure my argument wouldn’t be overturned no matter what counterarguments came up, I was able to lead the debate with confidence and win.
Broadcasting Club Activities: Creating a Joyful School Life for Students
I have been active as a member of the Broadcasting Club’s production team. I believed that the Broadcasting Club not only had the mission of effectively conveying school announcements to students but was also responsible for creating a joyful school life for them.
I wanted our broadcasts during lunch breaks and before self-study periods to connect more closely with students and elicit a response, so I sought ways to encourage active student participation beyond simply playing songs. That’s why I planned a broadcast segment where we read “listeners’ messages.” While sharing personal concerns was a good idea, I came up with the concept of briefly reading letters addressed to friends or teachers while playing requested songs. I asked students to feel free to send in their stories, even anonymously, and set up a suggestion box in front of the broadcasting club’s classroom and accepted submissions via comments on the club’s Facebook page. There were more students eager to share their thoughts than I expected, and when we selected meaningful or entertaining stories to broadcast along with their requested songs, we received a great response. Through this program, we saw increased interaction among students as well as between students and teachers.
Examples of Practicing Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation
Charcoal Briquette Delivery Volunteer Activity Planned by the Broadcasting Club In addition to my activities with the Broadcasting Club, I proposed that we do something meaningful as a club and started a volunteer activity to deliver charcoal briquettes. After seeing news reports about people struggling to make ends meet in the cold weather and sharing them with my friends, I suggested volunteering and applied for permission from our teacher. I had thought that simply moving the charcoal briquettes was the extent of the volunteer work, but it turned out to be much more than that. While delivering the briquettes, I met and talked with the elderly recipients, striving to convey not just the briquettes but also the warmth of our hearts. I realized that the true meaning of volunteering lies not only in providing physical warmth but also in comforting their hearts. Even on chilly October days, I worked up a sweat carrying the briquettes, but rather than feeling exhausted, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment imagining the homes that would be warmed day by day thanks to the single briquette I was carrying. Through this volunteer activity, I also experienced the importance of cooperation and consideration with my friends. The coal briquettes were heavy, and since it was our first time doing this, we made many mistakes. However, rather than complaining, my friends tried to help whenever there was a difficulty, and by sharing the load of the heavy briquettes, we cultivated a spirit of cooperation. As we worked together to realize the value of volunteering, no one frowned; everyone approached the task positively. This allowed us to share the deep values of consideration and sharing without even needing to speak. I felt great joy that my friends accepted my suggestion and that we were able to share the meaning of volunteering together.
Motivation for Application and Future Aspirations
China, a Country Set for Greater Growth I believe the Chinese market will continue to grow in the future. Therefore, I considered learning Chinese alongside English to be highly valuable, and I have chosen to study Chinese as my second foreign language. I have not only studied for exams but also practiced to develop my listening and speaking skills. Along with my aptitude for languages, I recognize the value and power of words. Learning Chinese is, in essence, a way to truly understand China and grasp its value and influence. As I mastered Chinese and gained a deeper understanding of China, I developed a dream of playing a social role that contributes to Korea’s international cooperation and engagement with China. That is why I applied to the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Korea University. I will excel in my major courses at your university and actively participate in overseas training programs to grow into a proud asset of your institution. As a student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, I will build my capabilities both deeply and broadly to contribute to the expansion of exchanges with China. I believe there will be a growing need for China experts, particularly those who can effectively apply their skills in practice. I am confident that I can become a specialist who contributes to exchanges between Korea and China, and I aim to build my capabilities and cultural literacy through systematic and in-depth study to serve both the university and the nation. If accepted as a student at your university, I will do my utmost to excel as a top student and as a China expert.
