In this blog post, I’ll take a moment to reflect on my academic experiences, school activities, acts of kindness and giving, and how I prepared for my career path during my time in high school.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

The thing I focused on most while studying was the classes themselves. Seeing my friends become so consumed by anxiety about the future that they focused solely on self-study and ended up missing out on class, I resolved to do the opposite and never miss a class. This was because I believed that the teachers, with their extensive experience and expertise, could influence not only my test scores but also my entire approach to understanding problems with just a single word spoken during class.
So, to ensure I could concentrate in class, I maintained a proper sleep schedule and developed the habit of taking thorough notes during every class. I made an effort not to miss even the smallest tips, explanations, or sometimes even jokes the teachers made—I took such detailed notes that one teacher even remarked, “Are you writing down the jokes too?”
As a result, I was able to remember not just the simple theories covered in class, but also the background behind them, their development, and even the stories of the people involved. By grouping the anecdotes and tips the teacher shared using mnemonic techniques to memorize them, my understanding deepened, and my study methods naturally improved. Since the lesson content was well-organized in my mind, reviewing became much more effective.
Thanks to repeating the material multiple times during class, I was able to almost memorize a lot of it right then and there, and with less time spent on separate review sessions, I could focus more on preparing for mock exams and school exams. My study habits, which focused on the fundamentals, were also a great help in developing my ability to apply what I learned, and ultimately, I was able to achieve balanced results on both mock exams and my school grades.

Writing about major school activities and reflections

The school activity I found most meaningful was the reading club. Although I grew up hearing about the importance of reading, I didn’t always find reading enjoyable. My initial reason for joining the reading club was a practical decision: I thought it would help me study for the language section of the college entrance exam. However, as time went on, reading became more than just a means of studying—it became a significant source of joy in my life.
The best part of the club was meeting “book buddies” with whom I could read together. Rather than organizing many activities, our club fostered a culture of reading extensively and recommending books to one another. Naturally, it became common to recommend and gift good books to my book buddies, and at first, I found those relationships a bit daunting and even a little scary.
However, after being deeply moved by the picture book ‘The Child Who Blushes’, which a senior recommended to me, I began a conversation with that senior, and it was then that I finally opened my heart to books. Starting with simple children’s stories and reading slowly, my habit of reading naturally took root.
Through books, I encountered the worries and experiences of many people. Among them, the issue I related to most was the anxiety of wondering, “Why am I different from others?” While my friends took interpersonal relationships for granted, I felt a greater sense of alienation and loneliness, and because of that, there were times when I considered myself abnormal. However, as I read a variety of books, I came to realize that anxiety can exist in anyone, and what matters is how one deals with it.
In particular, the book ‘A Slapped Soul’, which deals with anxiety disorders, resonated deeply with me, and it planted the seed for my future career path: a desire to study psychology. The book club also provided opportunities for interaction among people through books. By discussing books with upperclassmen, peers, and underclassmen, I learned diverse perspectives, and conversations with neighbors I met during external volunteer activities further deepened my interest in people.

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

This happened when I was serving as the club president. After our club festival, as the end of the year approached, there was a proposal for several clubs to go on a volunteer activity together. While it was common to go to areas facing issues to volunteer, I thought of the mothers on the school cleaning crew who had worked the hardest during the festival.
I thought that, rather than traveling far away to volunteer, expressing our gratitude directly on campus would be more meaningful for the mothers who had worked so hard to clean up the trash left over from the festival. So, we secretly prepared a party. We rented and decorated a classroom, prepared delicious food, and invited the mothers; the party was a success beyond our expectations.
All the mothers were so moved they shed tears, and even the security guard, who had been watching over the school for 17 years, remarked, “This is the first time I’ve experienced such a touching moment.” After the party ended, we cleaned up the mess ourselves, which led us to reflect once again on the true meaning of service.
Through this experience, I learned that service doesn’t always have to take place far away. I realized that expressing gratitude and showing appreciation to those who help me and work hard by my side is the very beginning of service. Since then, my relationship with the mothers has grown closer, and the students have naturally become more considerate, leading to positive changes that have made the school cleaner.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I’ve been curious about many things since I was young, and that curiosity became more concrete through reading. I couldn’t stop asking questions about why people laugh or cry, or why they behave in certain ways, and those around me even called me a “little philosopher.” As I read more and more, I was exposed to the thoughts of various figures and different perspectives, and my questions became increasingly clear.
Through my participation in a book club and my exposure to various books—especially the works of Haruki Murakami—I began to deeply reflect on the impact of reading, writing, and popular culture on human psychology. Personally, I believed books should offer positive values, but some works portrayed loss and futility in such a compelling way that they led readers to accept that sense of futility. Observing this phenomenon, I began to think that the influence of public choice and marketing on society could be dangerous, so I sought answers by exploring related psychology books.
Another observation I made was that small acts of consideration can change people’s behavior. When I planned a party for the cleaning staff, I wondered whether my friends’ attitudes would actually change. However, seeing the students’ behavior actually change after the party deepened my desire to learn more about the factors that motivate people. I continue to ask questions about how the way people treat one another is formed and changes, and what kinds of experiences trigger shifts in attitude.
I have a habit of jotting down new ideas as they come to me and carefully analyzing the reasons behind them. This habit, combined with the observational skills I’ve developed through reading, aligns with my career path: to major in psychology to understand people and, based on that understanding, contribute to making their lives happier. I hope to continue asking questions and pursuing research and practices that help others.