In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences, school activities, examples of compassion and giving, as well as my motivation for applying and the process of preparing for my career during my high school years.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
While learning an unfamiliar language, I came to appreciate the value of textbooks in a whole new light. Having grown up in the United States due to my father’s overseas work, I was accustomed to using English and felt that Korean language and culture were foreign to me. When I returned to Korea and enrolled in a foreign language high school, my biggest challenge was the language itself, and the hardest part was not being able to communicate freely with my Korean classmates.
To improve my communication skills, I decided to study step by step, starting from the basics and progressing to more advanced language activities. Throughout this process, my Korean language textbook served as my most reliable guide. Well-structured with sections on speaking, reading, and writing, the textbook was a great help in systematically building my Korean proficiency.
I started by borrowing middle school Korean language textbooks to familiarize myself with the material. I read unfamiliar literary works and gained new knowledge and background information by learning about the history of the creation of the Korean alphabet and the characteristics of the Korean language. In high school, I actively took speech classes, frequently volunteering to read textbook passages aloud in front of the class. Through reading classes, I expanded my understanding of textual context and background knowledge, and through writing classes, I mastered sentence structure.
As a result, my language grades—which had previously hovered at grade 5 or below—rose to grade 3 through textbook-centered study alone, and later, while studying classical poetry and modern novels, I even achieved a grade 2. At first, my friends felt uncomfortable due to my awkward pronunciation and clumsy writing, but as they saw my consistent effort and improving grades, the support and help from those around me increased, and I made many friends.
Through this experience, I learned that to truly understand a country’s culture, one must first master its language, and that the best teacher for language study is a systematically structured textbook. Having built a solid foundation in the language, I gained confidence in other academic subjects and broadened my cultural understanding.
Major School Activities and Reflections
After entering high school, I participated in various activities with confidence in my English skills, and my experience as the president of the English Conversation Club was particularly meaningful. Although English was a familiar subject to me, communicating with friends in a Korean classroom presented a different challenge compared to my experiences abroad. Nevertheless, in the English Conversation Club, I had the opportunity to exercise leadership as the president.
The English conversation club met during creative elective periods, where we held topic-based discussion sessions with our teacher. We typically selected original English-language novels—such as Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings—to read over the course of a week, and during our meetings, we discussed the plot and characters. As class president, I recommended books and moderated the discussions to guide the conversation.
As the moderator, I asked questions of the participants and summarized their presentations to set the tone, which helped me realize the importance of facilitation skills and leadership. While the members had a solid foundation in reading and writing, many struggled to speak freely in English and found it difficult to speak up on their own. I needed to guide the conversation gently to prevent the class atmosphere from becoming too stiff.
To this end, I made an effort to select works written in an easy-to-read style that my friends would find interesting yet not too daunting. By choosing works with sentences that could be understood from context alone and familiar themes, I lowered the barrier to participation in discussions. Each week, I would read the material in advance, summarize the content, and propose discussion topics. I set the topics as examples connected to daily life to encourage everyone to comfortably express their opinions.
For example, after reading Harry Potter, I raised topics that students could relate to, such as thoughts on boarding school life or issues of discrimination based on background, to facilitate free-flowing discussions. This experience gave me a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I could apply the novels and teaching methods I had encountered in the U.S. to the Korean classroom to support my peers’ learning.
Through my activities in the English conversation class, I developed leadership and communication skills, and this experience further solidified my career decision to grow into a leader in the field of international trade. I am confident that my ability to use business English and lead a team will be a practical asset in my future career.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
While attending a foreign language high school, I participated in a homestay program for international students during my sophomore year, where I experienced warm-hearted sharing and compassion. The program allowed exchange students from Canada and the United States to experience our school and host families for two weeks, and since I had lived abroad before, I naturally applied and participated.
My friend ○○○, whom I met during the homestay, told me he had come with a keen interest in Korean culture and history. At first, I was worried about whether I could adequately introduce Korean culture, but thanks to the help of my classmates, I was able to fulfill my role successfully. During classes, I explained the lesson content in English and, when necessary, taught him Korean to help him understand the material.
I also included him in the English conversation class activities to provide opportunities for discussion, and I arranged a separate presentation time so he could personally explain what life is like in an American high school. On weekends, we visited historical sites in Seoul, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun, and spent a meaningful time together with one of my friends acting as an interpreter. I also guided him to places that might interest foreigners, such as Itaewon and Insadong, to continue our cultural exchange.
Above all, what stands out in my memory is the thoughtfulness of my classmates. I was deeply moved by the warm attitude and spirit of sharing shown by the friends who explained things I didn’t understand and willingly came out on weekends to guide me. After the exchange ended, ○○○ left a thank-you letter and said they would invite us anytime if we visited the U.S., which made me feel very proud.
This experience taught me that even when people from different cultural backgrounds meet, small acts of consideration and the sharing of information are enough to build warm relationships, and it deepened my understanding of the value of sharing and cooperation. I also learned how important it is to grow together as friends fill in for each other’s shortcomings.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Influenced by my parents, who have worked overseas since I was young, I have always been interested in the field of international trade, and my experience in the U.S. naturally fostered my curiosity about trade and international business. Going beyond basic conversational skills, I have consistently practiced trade English, English interpretation, and English writing, and I aim to obtain a trade English certification after entering university.
The programs offered by the department I am applying to, particularly the opportunity to participate in a one-year trade entrepreneurship program and field internship during my junior year, solidified my motivation to apply. My goal is to secure employment at a foreign-affiliated trading company immediately after graduation, leveraging not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience. I believe that hands-on experience—where one can express ideas, engage in discussions, and take on challenges—is paramount in the field of international trade.
I plan to establish a concrete academic plan and put it into practice. During my first year, I will focus on understanding the broad framework of my major and define the essence of trade and international commerce in my own words. I will cultivate a foundation in the humanities and study business administration, economic theory, and the fundamentals of trade to build a solid foundation as a future international trade professional.
In my second year, I will improve my writing skills and proficiency in Chinese characters while broadening my understanding of Korean studies. At the same time, I plan to further strengthen my English conversation and writing skills to gain on-campus work experience in interpretation or translation. I will also strive to obtain a Business English certification and develop practical office skills to prepare myself to successfully handle internships and field experience.
Finally, in my senior year, I intend to apply early to foreign-affiliated companies to become a professional recognized for my practical skills. Through practice-oriented education and field internship experience, I will build my employability and ensure I am fully prepared to excel in the global trade arena immediately upon graduation.
