In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned, focusing on the academic goals I set during high school, the steps I took to achieve them, my school activities, and my experiences practicing kindness and generosity.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

I’ve always been a goal-oriented person, so I need a clear objective to stay motivated in whatever I do. When I was simply doing the assigned work in class without a purpose, my determination was weak, and my results suffered. However, once I set clear goals for college admission and my major, I decided to completely change my approach to studying.
As soon as I enrolled, I divided my goals into long-term and short-term objectives and created a step-by-step plan. My long-term goal was to steadily improve my grades to secure opportunities for early admission, while my short-term goals involved setting target grades for each subject and establishing specific study methods. While my math performance was relatively stable, I identified Korean and English as my weak areas and developed separate study strategies to address them.
Specifically, I adjusted my study time and workload on a monthly and weekly basis, and after each month, I would self-evaluate and adjust my plan accordingly. I analyzed and refined my study patterns to strategically address my weaknesses and elevate my strengths to a higher level. This plan meant more than just a schedule; it was also a process of building self-confidence by keeping the promises I had made to myself.
By strictly following the plan, my concentration improved significantly, and I developed the habit of staying awake and actively participating in class. The ability to set clear goals and plans and put them into practice kept me committed to my studies; as a result, efficient study habits took root, and my grades improved noticeably. Thanks to the customized study plan I created through self-analysis, I was able to improve my academic performance in a relatively short period and gained a sense of accomplishment and confidence in the process.

Major School Activities and Reflections

Since I was young, I’ve enjoyed creating intricate crafts, so in high school, I joined a club focused on hand-painting and pottery. Club activities often involved bringing my own designs to life, and by creating pieces such as pottery, teacups, and plates, I was able to hone my design skills through hands-on practice. The process of creating hand-painted pieces not only helped relieve the stress accumulated from studying but also served as an opportunity to discover and nurture my talent for design.
In particular, when I gave my parents teacups or plates that I had designed and crafted myself—or plates I had painted and fired—I was able to bring them great joy, and seeing their reactions made me more aware of the significance of my work. The experience of seeing the teacups I made become the first items to sell out during a festival was one of the decisive factors that led me to consider majoring in product design. Afterward, I actively pursued my creative work by sketching and recording any ideas that came to mind and organizing them into a creative notebook.
Another campus activity I consistently participated in was cultural field trips. Through various programs—such as tours of art galleries and museums, humanities lectures, and two-day, one-night cultural immersion trips—I strove to build a broad base of general knowledge and refine my sensibilities. I believed that to excel in product design, one must be supported not only by expressive skills but also by diverse cultural backgrounds and sensibilities, so I never neglected my participation in cultural activities.
The reflective essays I wrote after these experiences were not mere reports; instead, I focused on the aspects that brought about change and insight within me. Rather than simply listing what I saw, I enjoyed writing about how those experiences influenced my thinking and creativity. I often found that my existing ideas were either challenged or reinforced through these cultural experiences, and reflecting on these changes greatly helped me develop my design sensibility. Moving forward, I intend to continue investing in diverse cultural experiences throughout my college years to further expand my unique design values and sensibilities.

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

I have experience using my talents to give back to others. During high school, I participated in the annual school charity bazaar, selling teacups, plates, and decorative items I had made myself, and donating the proceeds. At first, it was simply a matter of selling works made with my still-unpolished skills to raise funds, but the sense of fulfillment I felt was immense.
In particular, seeing how the donations were actually used made me realize that my talents could provide tangible help to others. When I saw my friends, inspired by what they witnessed, say they wanted to participate next time, I truly felt my small act of giving spreading to those around me. This experience instilled in me the belief that even a small individual action can have a positive impact on the community.
Starting in my sophomore year, I practiced sharing through collaboration by creating and selling artwork with my friends. The pieces we created by putting our heads together added the value of cooperation to the meaning of sharing, and the joy we felt when the proceeds were delivered to those in need was doubled. Through this process, I learned that the more you share, the greater the sense of fulfillment, and that cooperation amplifies that value.
In addition to charity bazaars, I sought out volunteer opportunities whenever time allowed, striving to share my talents and energy. I believe the value of giving is not a one-time act but a way of life. Moving forward, I will continue to strive to be a person who consistently practices giving, building on the values I learned in high school.