In this blog post, I’ll summarize how the academic efforts I made, the school activities I participated in, and my experiences with consideration and cooperation during high school have shaped my life and career path.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

I realized that I am not a “genius” type who can understand or memorize everything at once, but rather someone who achieves results only through consistent repetition and time investment. A metaphor I read in a book perfectly described my learning style. It was the story of how some people can pierce a wall in one go with a sharp tool, while others must repeatedly strike the wall with a dull tool before finally achieving results. Through this analogy, I came to accept that repetition and time investment are the core of my learning style.
At first, it was difficult for me to cover the same amount of material in the same amount of time, and I had to spend more time than my peers just to achieve similar results. So, I came up with a strategy: “utilizing spare moments.” I simply broke down time units from “hours” to “minutes” and began breaking down small goals into manageable chunks.
For example, I would set a goal to finish a specific study segment within 23 minutes and focus intently on it. I consciously carved out and filled every spare moment—morning self-study time, breaks, short gaps during lunch, and evening self-study sessions. By breaking things down into small units and building them up consistently, I was able to cover much more material than before, which ultimately led to improved grades.
I realized two things through this experience. One is that consistent effort can gradually help you surpass your limits, and the other is that time management and setting small goals are particularly powerful tools for students who aren’t natural geniuses. Even now, I continue to apply the small-unit time management techniques I learned back then in my daily life.

Write about major school activities and your reflections

In high school, I joined the newspaper and debate club by chance, which broadened my perspective on the world. I had originally wanted to join the film club, but since I didn’t get in, this was my second choice. At first, I didn’t find newspapers or debates interesting, but my perspective changed after actually participating in debates and conducting interviews.
Through these club activities, I became aware of various social issues, particularly those related to education. I realized that the topics covered in the newspaper weren’t merely complex issues, but current affairs directly connected to our daily lives. As I learned about blind spots in educational welfare and how budgets are allocated, I began to deeply reflect on how policies and the flow of resources affect people’s lives.
In the process, I naturally developed an interest in economics. I found it fascinating to compare domestic and international economic policy cases and identify lessons that policies from Japan or the United States could offer us. Together with interested friends, I published a monthly magazine and distributed it at school, and we also held economic discussion meetings with students from other schools in the area.
We strove to ensure that our discussions and their outcomes went beyond mere exchanges of opinions. We created opportunities to meet directly with city policy officials, the mayor, and district chiefs to present our discussion points and ask questions, and we actively participated in policy engagement programs organized by the city. Through this process, I deeply realized that “turning interest into action can bring about greater change.”
Above all, I realized the power of collaborative activities. The projects we planned by brainstorming, researching, and debating together with my club members became a bridge connecting my intellectual curiosity to the real world. These experiences served as a crucial turning point that transformed my interest in economics into concrete career exploration.

Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

Through club activities, I discovered not only the joy of acquiring knowledge but also the joy of communicating directly with people and building relationships. Through experiences where people I met for the first time at interview locations welcomed me warmly, and teachers at school understood and supported our activities, I learned that “consideration” fosters personal growth.
Experiencing consideration myself motivates me to be considerate of others. When I became a sophomore, I made a concerted effort to look after and mentor younger students. I generously shared everything I knew—from newspaper writing techniques and debate preparation to practical reporting skills—and sometimes provided physical assistance by carrying reporting equipment or heavy objects for them.
I acted with the same mindset when volunteering outside the club. If a teammate was irresponsible or a situation arose where consideration was lacking, I tried to offer more understanding and help rather than immediately reprimanding them. As a result, I saw a transformation in members who were initially passive; they gradually developed a sense of responsibility and began to participate actively.
In my experience, “consideration” brings about greater change than coercive rules. The act of caring for others went beyond mere kindness; it served as a powerful driving force that helped us achieve our common goals. By putting this belief into practice, I gained a deep understanding of the value of cooperation.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I grew up in a culture where discussion and the expression of opinions were always encouraged. My parents had a habit of occasionally holding family meetings to listen to each other’s views and resolve issues through discussion. I grew up observing the process of democratic decision-making among family members of different ages and cultural backgrounds.
Thanks to this environment, I became accustomed to expressing my thoughts logically from a young age and was able to speak confidently and with conviction even in front of adults. I also naturally developed the ability to independently consider and decide “how I should act in this moment” during critical situations.
This skill proved invaluable when I served as class president or led club activities at school. When unexpected situations arose—such as getting lost during a field trip or facing issues with the yearbook—I was able to calmly analyze the problem and propose solutions. These experiences laid the foundation for my leadership skills and gave me the confidence to organize people and achieve goals.
Ultimately, witnessing firsthand the impact of social issues, policies, and especially economic decisions on people’s lives solidified my resolve to pursue a career in economics. The culture of debate fostered by my parents and the practical experience gained through club activities were invaluable in preparing me for this path. Moving forward, I plan to continue studying diligently and gaining hands-on experience in various settings to further explore the connection between policy and the economy.