In this blog post, I will present a sample personal statement for applying to the Department of Computer Education at Korea National University of Education, summarizing my academic efforts during high school, meaningful school activities, examples of consideration and cooperation, and my strengths as a future teacher.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
As I had a strong interest in computer-related subjects, I focused intensively on Excel—along with presentations, PowerPoint, and Word—with the goal of obtaining an office automation (OA) certification. Since Excel was only covered at a basic level in class—limited to fundamental data processing and basic functions—I needed to study on my own to prepare for the certification. Fortunately, my school offered a preparatory class for the Level 2 Computer Proficiency Certification, so I enrolled in the after-school program and began studying in earnest.
Compared to the Level 3 certification I had already earned through self-study, Level 2 was more challenging in both the written and practical exams, requiring significantly more time. As part of the after-school program, I concurrently learned practical spreadsheet applications and database functions, studying consistently for at least two hours a day to keep up with the course material.
In the spreadsheet class, I first mastered data processing, cell formatting, conditional formatting, auto-filter, and advanced filter, and then expanded my computational skills to include functions and array formulas. Since there are many types of functions and they require a deep understanding, I took meticulous notes in my textbook to organize the material. As a result, I learned logical functions, lookup functions, text functions, information functions, mathematical and trigonometric functions, statistical and financial functions, date and time functions, and even user-defined functions.
For analytical tasks, I prepared for the practical exam by learning subtotals and sorting, pivot tables, data tables, what-if scenarios, data consolidation, goal seek, and macros, and ultimately earned my Level 2 Computer Proficiency Certificate.
School Activities I Took Seriously
I realized the importance of computer science early on, and after learning about the value of ICT education from my teacher, I joined the school’s Information and Communications Technology Research Club. Although our school was located in a rural area, my teacher established the club to create a smart learning environment, and I cherished the opportunity to study topics in greater depth than what was covered in regular classes.
My problem-solving skills improved significantly through my club activities. Problem-solving skills involve the ability to tackle given tasks in a systematic and logical manner, and the ICT research club was ideal for cultivating these skills. First, while researching data processing, I designed a program to count the number of dots on cards as part of my binary number studies and learned about image representation, character compression, error detection and correction, and information theory.
Through this process, I realized the importance of algorithms and commands, and through information theory, I grasped the core principles of web-based education. Second, while learning practical database skills, I gained an understanding of data and mastered table creation, relationship establishment, joining and importing, forms and controls for input and modification, and query writing—all of which provided practical help in preparing for the Computer Literacy Certification.
Third, through studying algorithms and programming, I experienced firsthand the possibilities of software design. I researched search and sorting algorithms, minimum spanning trees, network routing, and deadlock, and collaborated with club members to solve problems by implementing projects such as treasure hunts, marching sequences, graphic coloring, dominator sets, and Steiner trees.
In addition, I worked on designs related to information security and cryptography, implementing procedures such as confidential information hiding, public-key encryption, and encryption schemes using coin flips; through repeated practice, my programming skills gradually improved.
Examples of Practicing Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation
Our school had at least two multi-purpose computer labs, and we needed staff to manage the school’s computers and licensed software. Members of the Information and Communication Technology Research Club took turns volunteering to manage the labs, and I also participated as a volunteer, performing maintenance tasks for the multi-purpose labs.
While students were engaged in evening self-study in the labs, if hardware malfunctions or software errors occurred, I would first inspect the issue myself; if it was difficult to resolve, I would share information with club members to fix it. We exchanged information needed for repairs and improvements in real time through a group chat.
On one occasion, during a school event—a computer training session for teachers—a web page error persisted, so I stepped in to assist directly. Although I was initially flustered by the sudden internet outage, I drew on the knowledge I had accumulated over time, gathered club members to exchange ideas, and resolved the issue. Through this process, I deeply appreciated the value of collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Reasons Why I Should Be Admitted to Your University and My Strengths
I spent my high school years at a rural high school in the Cheongwon area of North Chungcheong Province, where I realized the importance of computer education and established my goal of becoming a computer teacher at an early age. Thanks to my school’s support and teachers who were passionate about computer education, I was able to solidify my career plan, which led me to take an interest in the Department of Computer Education at Korea National University of Education.
I believe that Korea National University of Education, as an institution dedicated to training teachers who embody “true education,” is the ideal place for me to learn the pedagogical skills necessary to grow as a teacher. Since my freshman year of high school, I have had a clear goal and have actively prepared by combining self-study with school programs, including obtaining certifications in Word and computer proficiency.
My consistent passion and proactive attitude toward my areas of interest are my greatest strengths. In particular, my interests extend beyond simple computer skills to include educational applications such as web-based education, information technology education, and distance learning, which I believe makes me well-suited for a teaching career. Furthermore, I am confident that I possess the necessary character traits, as I have understood the mindset of an educator and the direction of education since my school days.
If given the opportunity to grow as a teacher, I will become a prospective teacher who faithfully fulfills my role in the classroom, drawing on the technical skills and personal qualities I have developed thus far.
