In this blog post, I’ll summarize the academic efforts and musical activities I pursued during high school, my experiences with consideration and collaboration, and my motivations and preparation process for applying to college.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During my school years, I tried to approach my studies as “scientifically” as possible. While reading various books on study methods, I came across the forgetting curve developed by the German psychologist Ebbinghaus, and based on that theory, I improved my previous method of mindless repetition and memorization. Originally, I would memorize 50 English vocabulary words and 20 idioms every day, believing that “seeing and writing them a lot would be enough,” but as time passed, I retained almost nothing, making this approach very inefficient.
The key point of the forgetting curve was the importance of early review. I applied this concept—that reviewing appropriately 10 minutes, 20 minutes, one day, one week, and one month after memorization increases the likelihood of information being transferred to long-term memory—to my actual study plan. I changed my study pattern so that I would review the words 10 minutes after memorizing them, review them again that evening, and then the next day, review them cumulatively by combining what I had learned the previous day with the new material.
My actual study routine was as follows. I would review the 50 newly memorized words once 10 minutes later, skim through them again in the evening, and then the next day, I would combine them with what I had learned previously, aiming to review up to 100 words at a time. After that, I would combine them with the words memorized on the second day for cumulative review, and a week later, I would go over everything learned that week to reinforce it.
As a result, I reviewed the words covered that month at least three times over the course of a month, and as the number of repetitions increased, more words were transferred to long-term memory. Through this experience, I realized that systematic spacing and cumulative review are more important than simple quantitative repetition, and I truly understood how much of a difference evidence-based thinking makes when designing learning methods.
Writing About Major Campus Activities and Reflections
After playing the guitar at the orientation following my admission, I received several offers to join bands. Since I had always preferred acoustic and indie music, I felt I wouldn’t be a good fit for the school’s rock band program and initially declined the offers. However, when a classmate suggested taking on vocal duties, we discussed forming an acoustic band together. After trying out the music and vocals together, we felt our musical tastes and chemistry aligned, so we decided to form a band.
We soon decided on a band name and began practicing in earnest. We continued our activities, sometimes borrowing the rock band’s rehearsal space when needed, and as a result, a djembe player and a pianist joined us, expanding the group to four members. Under the unique name “Air Conditioning Even in Winter,” we started writing original songs, drawing inspiration from school life and our surroundings to express themes like the sweltering summer heat and the anxieties of students preparing for college entrance exams through our music.
Through this process, our songwriting and lyric-writing skills naturally improved, allowing every member to participate in the creative process. We grew to the point where we had completed five songs and were ready to perform them at small-scale school concerts. At a nighttime concert held on the school playground, we shared the stage with other bands, and seeing so many students in the audience watching and cheering for us filled us with a sense of pride. By gradually holding regular small-scale performances like this, the band continued to develop both our musical proficiency and teamwork.
One particularly memorable performance was a Christmas charity concert we held at a nearby military base. We arranged and performed a wide range of genres—from the latest idol hits to classical music and movie soundtracks—and were able to bring comfort and joy to the soldiers in the audience. Through this experience, we deeply felt the reward of bringing joy to others with the music we created and the performances we prepared, and we truly came to appreciate the social value of music.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and Reflections
After forming the band, we expanded our activities beyond campus and began performing on the streets. After trying out various locations, such as Insa-dong and Hongdae, we chose Marronnier Park in Daehangno as our regular performance venue. As we performed at the same time each week, we developed a loyal audience, and people began to offer support and encouragement. This hands-on experience taught us not only how to manage performances but also the importance of connecting with the audience and thorough practical preparation.
We also launched a Facebook page as part of our online promotion efforts, and we saw our activities expand as people we’d met at our shows visited the page and left supportive comments. As word of the band spread, internal conflicts arose; one of the four members said they wanted to focus on their studies and was considering stepping back from the band. This was a practical concern—they felt it would become difficult to participate in performances if our external activities became too frequent.
As the founding member of the band, I proposed that we address this issue carefully through a full group meeting, and we sought a solution through dialogue that respected each other’s perspectives while avoiding emotional reactions. Ultimately, we decided to maintain a schedule that allowed all four of us to perform together, but to create a flexible framework where we would perform as a trio when one member needed to focus more on their studies. Through this process, I learned firsthand the value of consideration, compromise, and cooperation, and we were able to prevent the band from breaking up.
This experience went beyond mere musical growth; it helped me develop the communication and conflict management skills necessary for leading an organization. Learning how to understand each other’s situations, adjust our roles, and maintain our shared goals has become a valuable asset that I can apply in any collaborative environment in the future.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I define the profession of a singer-songwriter as “someone who writes their own thoughts into lyrics, sets them to music, and conveys them directly through song.” I believe that connecting with the audience and sharing stories is the essence of being a singer-songwriter, and I became even more confident in this path after picking up the guitar and starting to perform with a band in my first year of high school. Rehearsing with bandmates who came together naturally helped me discover my musical identity, and I expanded my artistic expression with a focus on indie music with an acoustic feel.
We met almost every day after school to rent a practice room, and I focused intensely on developing my songwriting skills. I dedicated myself to creating music with the goal of writing one song per month, and I actively took advantage of the harmony and composition courses offered at school to build a solid theoretical foundation. Thanks to this consistent practice and learning, by my sophomore year, I was able to create relatively polished songs and present them to the public through street performances in areas like Daehangno.
Through three years of activity as a singer-songwriter, I gained confidence in my unique musical style. To learn more and develop my skills professionally, I decided to enroll in the Department of Music at Chungnam National University. Admission to music colleges is highly competitive, and the applied music track in particular attracts many applicants; however, I am prepared to give it my all if given the opportunity to demonstrate my talent and passion in a real-world setting.
My future goal is to grow into a professional composer and instrumentalist. In particular, I have a specific aspiration to become an outstanding bass guitarist. At university, I plan to expand my creative capabilities by studying theory and practice in a balanced way, and to cultivate my expertise by gaining practical experience through various performances and collaborations.
