In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts, campus activities, collaborative experiences, and future plans for my application to the International Relations major at Kwangwoon University.

Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences

I liken studying to sports. The reason friends who excel at sports enjoy their sport is that they win often. Friends who have an advantage due to talent or physical conditions naturally experience success and develop an interest in learning. I believed studying was similar. Friends around me who did well on exams received praise from teachers thanks to their strong memorization skills or positive attitude, and that reward often directly translated into motivation.
Based on that experience, I decided to create a sense of accomplishment through small rewards I could give myself, rather than relying on test results. For example, I made a promise to myself: if I solved five problems in each of five subjects per day, I would allow myself to watch 20 minutes of soccer game footage at home; or if I finished all my review work at school, I would let myself go to bed early. By sticking to these rules and using my waking hours efficiently, my grades improved, and even though I felt my learning pace was slow as a former athlete, I was able to keep up steadily at my own pace.
Through this process, I learned that it’s important to recognize my own achievements rather than comparing myself to others. I learned how to feel a sense of satisfaction after completing the tasks I needed to do.

Extracurricular Activities: Breaking the Mold Through the Advertising Club

The most enjoyable activity during my school life was the advertising club. At first, I thought of advertising as nothing more than celebrity-driven videos on TV, but the diverse advertisements I encountered in the club were amazing expressions that combined imagination and creativity. In my freshman year, we were assigned to write reflections on advertisements as homework, and through the works shown by upperclassmen, I realized that there are diverse thoughts and approaches in the world.
Starting in the second semester, I began producing advertisements myself and experienced both frustration and accomplishment. During brainstorming sessions, while my classmates came prepared with extensive research and actively shared their opinions, I often felt inadequate and frustrated. However, when I refined my ideas, turned them into finished works, and presented them to others—and received positive feedback—I felt immense joy. It was a time for me to break out of my own mental frameworks and learn to see and think in new ways.

Volunteer Work: What I Learned from Building Relationships with People

The most challenging yet meaningful activity was volunteer work. At first, I thought it was simply about helping others, but I came to realize that volunteering is a proactive activity where you must decide for yourself what to do and take responsibility for it. When unexpected situations arose—such as breaking something while cleaning—I had to resolve them on my own, and it was difficult to ask strangers for help or strike up a conversation with them.
At first, I felt awkward and shy about speaking to the elderly, but as I repeated the experience, conversation came naturally, and before I knew it, I found myself joking freely with the older women and men. I also experienced hurt feelings while coordinating opinions with friends, but through the process of hurting each other and making up, I realized the value of friendship and consideration.

Case Study on Collaboration and Conflict Management: Coordination as Club President

As the club president, my main role was to coordinate opinions. Since the club had many members with unique ideas, it was common for people to be reluctant to back down from their positions. For example, when deciding on a destination for our club trip, various suggestions—such as mountains, valleys, the beach, or overseas—were proposed simultaneously, and each person presented clear reasons for their choice.
The method I developed was to first listen carefully until the end. I allowed those who wanted to speak to express themselves fully, discouraged others from interrupting, and then reviewed the pros and cons one by one. I organized essential factors—such as cost, practical considerations, and parental consent—to narrow down the options to those that were realistically feasible, and we made a decision through a vote on each option. I resolved conflicts with underclassmen in the same way, summarizing the issues from an objective perspective to find solutions.

Reasons for Applying, Plans After Enrollment, and Career Goals

There are two main reasons why I chose to major in International Relations. First, I believed that as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, various international issues will arise more frequently, and there will be a need for professionals capable of resolving such problems. Second, I wanted to become someone who can resolve conflicts and mediate relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. I believed that dedicating my life to such work would bring me great fulfillment and a sense of pride.
I have three plans for after admission. First, I will systematically study the theories of international relations and the rules and principles necessary for conflict resolution, and develop the expertise to apply them in practical settings. Second, I will strengthen my language skills. Building on my current proficiency in Korean, English, and Chinese, I plan to utilize the university’s resources to learn various other foreign languages. Third, I will gain diverse experiences. I will treat my college years as an opportunity for growth, actively utilizing my time to build a broad range of experiences through internships, fieldwork, and exchange programs, thereby enhancing my capabilities.