In this blog post, I’ll share my academic efforts, school activities, examples of consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying and my career preparation process during my time in high school.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I changed my study method by adopting a simple rule: “Write down what you don’t know three times.” Especially in math and language arts, I often felt frustrated because even when I thought my approach was correct, I had to solve problems in the way the answer key required. Since I studied on my own without attending cram schools, it took a lot of time to deeply understand every problem, and I had no one to turn to for help. So, I decided that even if I had to memorize them, I would write down any problems I didn’t understand to help me on the exam. I prepared a notebook, wrote “Three Times” on the first page, and resolved to write down difficult problems—both those I didn’t understand and those I got wrong—three times each, no matter what.
At first, I was surprised at how much time it took. Trying to write the same problem three times, I realized I couldn’t concentrate, and my bad habit of constantly checking my smartphone also became apparent. Until then, I had never thought of myself as having poor concentration, but through this process, I realized I was easily distracted. So, I began to cultivate my focus by changing my study environment—turning off my smartphone completely and not even drinking water until I had finished copying out all the problems.
The results were clear. As I copied the problems three times, my study habits and concentration improved, and I became able to pinpoint exactly where I was getting stuck on problems I hadn’t understood before. When I looked at the problems again in this way, they naturally made sense, and as my understanding grew, my study pace began to pick up. What seemed like simple memorization actually laid the foundation for my learning.
Write about major school activities and your reflections
The Chinese drama club was an opportunity to develop my language skills and teamwork. Since I have relatives from China, I was exposed to Chinese for fun while greeting them during holidays. After entering high school, I chose Chinese as my second foreign language and joined the Chinese drama club. At first, I was too shy to perform on stage and only wanted to participate as a crew member, but I gradually became passionate about theater. In my sophomore year, I served as club president and did my best to create better performances alongside my juniors.
One of the reasons I became so immersed in the drama club was the opportunity to exchange ideas with members from diverse backgrounds. The group included friends who had lived in China, others who had studied abroad in the U.S. and were fluent in both English and Chinese, and those well-versed in Chinese culture—all of whom shared a keen interest in the world. Watching them, I realized that I had been trapped in a narrow perspective, and naturally, I began to dream of venturing out into a wider world. Through this process, I studied Chinese and English more actively, which ultimately influenced my decision to major in International Trade.
Another major lesson I learned was the importance of collaboration. Theater is not an activity built on individual effort alone, but on the unity of a team. Even if an actor performs well, the production cannot be completed without support from the set, lighting, and costumes. Before joining the club, I had a selfish side that was used to being spoiled within my family, but through club activities, I learned to share even a single cup of instant noodles, and I no longer hesitated to mend or cut up clothes to make stage costumes. Through experiences of truly being together—such as borrowing each other’s homes for practice—I learned the spirit of cooperation. Seeing how those experiences miraculously brought the stage to life filled me with deep emotion and a sense of pride.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
The experience that required the most compromise and consideration on my part occurred during my current role as vice-class president.
As we moved up a grade, there was a general reluctance to take on the role of class president, so I volunteered to be vice-president. However, when the class president stopped coming to school, I, as vice-president, ended up taking on the class president’s duties as well. Since I had to handle the announcements and visits to the faculty office that the class president would normally handle, I had to arrive 30 minutes early in the morning and stay late for evening self-study, which cut into my study time.
If it had been anyone else, they might have complained. But I felt that the moment I complained, the situation would only get worse. After all, since this was my responsibility, I thought complaining would upset the teacher and cause inconvenience for the classmates who needed to receive the information. So, I decided to quietly fulfill both roles.
Through this experience, I learned that taking on responsibility is not as easy as I had imagined. In particular, consistently fulfilling my responsibilities was even more difficult. Nevertheless, I strive to faithfully carry out my duties day by day for the sake of my friends and teachers, and I have come to realize that a sense of responsibility is a powerful force that shapes my actions and attitude.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My decision to major in International Trade stemmed from my dream of working for a global environmental organization like the UN. I want to contribute to protecting and conserving nature on a global scale and play a role in connecting and facilitating discussions between countries and corporations. To achieve this goal, I plan to attend classes diligently in college and focus on developing my language skills. Through lectures, I aim to identify my weaknesses, broaden my perspective, and expand the scope of my thinking.
I believe language proficiency is the foundation that allows me to communicate and negotiate anywhere. That is why I have consistently studied Chinese and English since high school, and gained experience in practical communication and cultural sensitivity through the drama club. Once I enter university, I intend to grow into a practical professional by engaging with a wider range of languages and international issues.
The reason Sunchang University should select me is that I am someone who “knows when to step back.” I believe that conflicts and misunderstandings often stem from language and can be resolved through words and actions. Although I am the vice-class president, I have taken on the role of class president to help my classmates, and I am the type to reach out first to comfort friends who are struggling. Even during meal service or lunch breaks, I prioritize others’ needs first. In the drama club, when the atmosphere became tense, I offered encouragement, listened to everyone’s opinions, and worked to find common ground. I believe this attitude of consideration and compromise is an ideal quality for collaborating and coordinating opinions on the international stage. With my innate thoughtfulness and ability to cooperate, I will exchange ideas with others and become someone who can represent Korea.
