In this blog post, I’ll summarize the academic efforts I made, the school activities I participated in, and my experiences practicing kindness, sharing, and cooperation during my time in high school.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
When I entered high school, my academic performance wasn’t particularly outstanding. While my friends were boasting about being at the top of the class, I felt fortunate just to rank within the top 20, which left me with a strong sense of relative deprivation. In this situation, I initially tried various methods driven solely by the desire to improve my ranking, but my grades didn’t change significantly until the end of my first semester of freshman year.
By the second semester of my freshman year, I began to seriously reflect on my grades and consulted with my homeroom teacher. The teacher analyzed my grade trends and offered advice based on past examples. In particular, after reviewing my grade patterns, the teacher described me as a “late bloomer,” and those words really resonated with me. The idea that I could achieve significant progress in the future, even if I didn’t see immediate results, became a strong source of motivation.
After that, I attempted a fundamental change in my study methods. Previously, I had tended to solve a lot of problems from commercially available workbooks or rely on outside academies and private tutors, but I realized that those methods actually didn’t suit me. So, I decided to focus on the textbooks and the study scope provided by the school.
Specifically, I began by thoroughly understanding and memorizing the concepts and theories in the textbook. I worked through every single learning activity, “Think Further” section, and example problem in the textbook without missing a single one, writing them out in my notebook and creating a notebook of my mistakes. I repeatedly reviewed difficult sections and asked my teacher about any concepts I didn’t understand to ensure I had a solid grasp of them.
As a result of these efforts, my grades improved noticeably by my sophomore year, and I began ranking within the top 10 in my class. In the following semester, I even ranked within the top 8. Ultimately, my grade point average and class ranking improved, allowing me to achieve a school GPA in the high 2s. Through this experience, I learned how important it is to be consistent and stick to the basics, and that small changes accumulate to lead to significant achievements.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
I began participating in the student council during my freshman year of high school. Previously, my only role at school had been that of a vice-class president, but I joined the student council at the recommendation of a senior. Although I was worried about my grades at the time, I also wanted to try volunteering for the school. The great sense of fulfillment I felt from being directly involved in school operations made me even more dedicated to my work on the student council.
At first, I served in a role where I gained a broad understanding of how the student council operated by observing the work of various departments, such as the Self-Governance Department, Planning Department, and General Affairs Department. Our school’s student council was structured so that the heads and deputy heads of each department handled the day-to-day operations, rather than the president or vice president. Since the executive board was primarily responsible for communicating with the steering committee and the vice principal, while actual tasks were carried out by each department, I was able to develop my practical skills by observing the operational methods of various departments.
Starting in my sophomore year of high school, I joined the General Affairs Department. While also serving as class vice-president, I gained hands-on experience with the budget application and procurement processes. I developed a strong sense of responsibility as I personally reviewed and analyzed budget proposals, placed orders for supplies, and verified that everything was in order. Later, I was promoted to deputy head and took on the role of leading the General Affairs Department.
The General Affairs Department’s duties went beyond simply executing the budget. Another important role was gathering suggestions from classes and students and incorporating them into the budget planning process. Rather than simply repeating the existing budget, I had to identify areas for change by reflecting new demands. To this end, I considered ways to actively collect feedback from class meetings.
Since class meetings often did not run smoothly, I created a suggestion section on the school newspaper and website to ensure anyone could easily share their opinions. Once we allowed anonymous posts on the website bulletin board, we began receiving various practical suggestions—such as improvements to the cafeteria menu, dormitory rules, and facility upgrades—that could actually be implemented. Based on the feedback received, we collaborated with the Planning Department to develop a plan for improving the school lunch menu and submitted a budget proposal for dormitory facility upgrades, bringing about tangible changes through practical action.
This experience made me realize that it goes beyond mere administrative work—it is a process of reflecting the voices of the school community in policy decisions. I was able to personally experience the transparency of budget allocation, the importance of communication, and the satisfaction of solving problems through collaboration.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
During my sophomore year of high school, while serving as Deputy Head of the General Affairs Department, I participated in a relay campaign to register potential hematopoietic stem cell donors through collaboration with other departments. The event was jointly planned by the Planning Department and a volunteer club, and our General Affairs Department was responsible for renting equipment, managing the budget, and providing promotional support. While preparing the budget proposal, I became deeply moved by the campaign’s purpose and decided to actively participate in the promotional activities myself.
While preparing for the campaign, we made an effort to accurately understand the necessity of hematopoietic stem cell donation and the significance of bone marrow donation. Based on this understanding, we produced and distributed promotional materials and informational pamphlets to convey the message to the school community, including students, faculty, and parents. We also decided to prioritize compiling a registration list within the school, so we personally explained the process to students passing through the hallways and helped them fill out the application forms.
We also meticulously prepared the follow-up procedures. After registration, a nurse was on hand to draw blood for genetic testing, and we established a system to ensure that participants were contacted at each subsequent stage. After school, we expanded our outreach to include not only students but also members of the general public passing by. With concise yet compelling explanations, we captured the interest of many people, and more individuals than we had anticipated agreed to register as donors and undergo blood draws.
Of course, there were some who left the site because they felt uncomfortable with the physical procedures, such as the blood draw, but I was deeply moved to see so many people participate with composure. Through this campaign, I realized that a small act by an individual can save another person’s life, and I learned that when diverse members collaborate toward a common goal, they can create a greater impact.
Furthermore, while organizing the campaign, I realized that the role of the General Affairs Department extends beyond simply managing supplies or executing budgets to contributing to the realization of social values. I learned firsthand that an event’s success depends on the seamless integration of collaboration with other departments, communication that bridges residents and students, and practical preparation and execution. This experience has instilled in me an attitude of never hesitating to take small actions for the benefit of our community.
