In this blog post, I’ve summarized my high school academic experiences, school activities, experiences demonstrating consideration and cooperation, career goals, and academic plans for college, based on a sample personal statement for applicants to the Department of Home Economics and Technology at Kongju National University.
Efforts and Learning Experiences During High School
In my studies, I had a strong desire to be perfect. Even though I knew perfection was impossible, I always felt disappointed when I got a single question wrong, so I constantly wondered how I could score 100 instead of 95. The solution I discovered was repetitive study. Constant repetition was the key to my academic success and the method that helped me overcome challenges in my grades.
First, I purchased all the workbooks I would need for the entire year at once. I divided them into four subject areas—Language, Foreign Language, Social Studies and Culture, and Mathematics—and prepared two workbooks for each area, for a total of eight. After that, I solved 10 problems each day from those eight workbooks, but instead of writing my answers directly in the workbooks, I copied the problems into a separate notebook to solve them there. The reason for this was to be able to repeatedly work through the same workbooks. By doing so, I was able to complete one or two workbooks per month, working through the same set at least eight times.
Repeating the same workbooks meant becoming thoroughly familiar with everything, including the answer keys. By reworking both the questions I got wrong and the ones I got right, I naturally memorized my weak areas, and as I became familiar with question types, I was able to grasp what kinds of passages typically appeared in specific question types. Through this repetitive study, my memory improved, and I was able to identify and fill in gaps in my theoretical knowledge. In particular, for the Verbal and Foreign Language sections, I saw my reading comprehension improve as I became familiar with the passages and mastered their formats.
Extracurricular Activities: Technology and Home Economics Classes and Presentation Experience
The most enjoyable class I took was Technology and Home Economics. Our school’s Technology and Home Economics teacher was young and creative in her teaching style, and thanks to her, students stayed focused even during a class that is often considered an arts and physical education subject. Learning to knit was particularly memorable. To help students who were struggling with knitting, the teacher brought in a very large knitting needle to demonstrate; her explanation using the large needle was both humorous and engaging, making it easy for us to learn. Thanks to her ingenuity, we enjoyed learning to knit, and we used our new skills to knit hats for premature babies, which we donated to a charity. Once we understood the purpose of the project, we knitted even more diligently, striving to make the hats neat and pretty, and everyone participated faithfully in the class to fulfill our promise.
Through this experience, I first learned the value of “creativity.” The teacher’s creative teaching methods deeply moved me and made me think that if I ever become a teacher, I would like to teach in that same way. Second, I learned the power of “good motivation.” The teacher explained the circumstances of premature babies and how valuable our contributions were, and as a result, the students participated more enthusiastically in class. This led me to reflect on the outcomes of a good class and the essence of teaching itself.
Additionally, during Technology and Home Economics class, I had the experience of giving a presentation on my own for the very first time. Previously, my presentations had involved reading from a script or presenting with friends, but when the portfolio I created was selected as an outstanding work, I was given the opportunity to explain how to create a portfolio to my younger peers. At first, I was afraid of making mistakes, but thanks to the teacher’s encouragement, I stood in front of my classmates to introduce examples from my portfolio and discovered the joy of presenting.
Examples of Practicing Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation
I realized that the reason I hadn’t been able to help my friends was because I believed that “you have to be good at something yourself before you can help others.” I used to think I had to be as perfect as my teacher to be of help, but as I explained and assisted with the younger students’ portfolios, I learned that help isn’t given from a state of perfection, but from a “state of heart.” Even if you’re not perfect, the willingness to help is conveyed to the other person and becomes a great source of strength when they need it.
Since this realization, I’ve become someone who speaks up more, pays attention to those around me, and looks for opportunities to help. In particular, I used my strength—my manual dexterity—to help classmates who were struggling in art, music, and home economics classes, and I never turned them down, even when they kept asking questions, but helped them through to the end. If there was something they didn’t understand, I stayed with them until they got it, and I never got angry or frustrated when they couldn’t do it. This was because I recalled the memory of my teacher warmly helping me during my presentation and the gratitude I felt toward her.
Through this experience, I learned the value of even small acts of help, and I realized that even if I couldn’t solve someone’s problem all at once, offering a simple hint to prevent a mistake could be a huge help. Furthermore, while helping others, I confirmed that technology and home economics were areas where I excelled, and from that moment on, I set my career goal on becoming a teacher of technology and home economics.
Career Goals, Motivation for Applying, and Academic Plans After Enrollment
My career goal is to become an “innovative Technology and Home Economics teacher.” I gained courage from a great teacher who gave excellent lessons, and thanks to that teacher’s encouragement, I realized new possibilities through my presentation. I applied to the Department of Technology and Home Economics Education at Kongju National University with the hope of becoming a teacher who can give back what I have received. I believe that even if one isn’t naturally creative, one can develop ingenuity through hard work. I will always keep in mind the inspiration and courage I received—and the changes they brought about—and strive to follow in the footsteps of such teachers.
In college, I want to participate diligently in classes while also taking on various activities. Based on the belief that creativity stems from a solid understanding of past experiences and theories, I will systematically acquire knowledge in technology and home economics-related subjects as well as in education as a whole. At the same time, I intend to gain new experiences. I wish to participate in overseas volunteer work to observe and study diverse cultures, and I plan to explore various regions within Korea to broaden my horizons. Through these acts of service, travel, and experiences, I aim to broaden my perspective and grow into a teacher capable of embracing many students.
