In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences and school activities during high school, examples of my acts of kindness and giving, as well as my motivation for applying and the process of preparing for my career.
Writing About Academic Experiences and Reflections
Studying Hanja had a greater impact on my overall academic performance than I had anticipated. Upon learning that while Hangul is a phonetic script, Hanja is a logographic script, I gained a deep understanding of the difference between expressions that are easy to read in Hangul and those interpreted through Hanja. Realizing that over 70% of the Korean language consists of Sino-Korean words, I felt that knowledge of Hanja was essential when reading newspapers or analyzing Korean language passages. So, when I took Hanja classes in school, I tried to learn as much as possible, and as a result, I found that my ability to study other subjects improved as well.
Studying Hanja didn’t immediately boost my grades in other subjects, but it definitely helped me interpret passages and understand the intent behind exam questions. For example, when I encountered the word “inference” in a Korean language passage, I used to miss its exact meaning and gloss over it before I knew the Hanja. However, after learning the Hanja, I was able to immediately understand that it meant “reasoning through similar content” by associating the meanings of “yu (類)” and “chu (推).” In this way, knowledge of Hanja allowed me to grasp the meanings of sentences and vocabulary more precisely.
To improve my Hanja skills, I consistently read Hanja textbooks while preparing for a certification exam. Rather than simply trying to memorize individual characters like symbols, I made an effort to learn words within sentences. Learning words in context allowed me to recognize the phrases themselves as units, which naturally made them easier to understand. Still, when I needed to memorize the shapes of Hanja characters, I studied by analyzing them as if I were drawing pictures. I realized that even complex Hanja characters, when broken down into their components, are simply combinations of basic radicals, which helped me understand that Hanja was originally a pictographic script. As a result, studying Hanja was a great help in interpreting Korean words more accurately.
Major School Activities and Reflections
During my freshman year of high school, I wrote down the things I wanted to achieve and created an action plan. I made a commitment that if I wrote down my goals in the form of a modest bucket list, I could accomplish them within three years, and among them, I wrote that I would definitely participate in overseas volunteer work. Then, at the end of my sophomore year, I put that goal into action and joined an overseas volunteer group in Mongolia. This region is largely mountainous and has poor social infrastructure, so there was a need to rebuild educational and basic facilities. Through on-site visits, we identified areas requiring support and decided to carry out volunteer work to rebuild these facilities.
The program I participated in, called the “Youth Overseas Work Camp,” took place over a relatively long period spanning both the school term and summer break. To prepare for the trip, I began gathering the necessary funds and personal items two months in advance and met with my fellow participants beforehand to build rapport. The group included teachers, upperclassmen, and underclassmen, allowing me to form connections with a diverse range of people. We held several preparatory meetings to ensure we could carry out the volunteer work effectively and gathered the necessary construction materials and tools. While most materials could be sourced locally, some items were only available in Korea, making the cooperation and preparation of the team members particularly important.
I always tried to keep in mind that overseas volunteer work is not merely an experience but a responsible undertaking. We confirmed safety procedures, such as insurance coverage and school authorization, and conducted preliminary research using photos provided during meetings to understand the local situation. The areas of Mongolia I saw in the photos were far more underdeveloped than I had anticipated, with many makeshift educational facilities and buildings in need of renovation. Seeing that safety facilities were virtually nonexistent, I resolved to approach the local support efforts with even greater seriousness.
After arriving in Mongolia, I first explored my assigned area through mountain climbing and hiking. Since the region is mostly mountainous, it was essential to assess the terrain on foot, and during this process, I pushed my physical limits. There were sections that were too difficult to manage with just my hiking experience from Korea, so I had to rely on the help of my seniors to make it back down. Through these experiences, I felt a deep sense of camaraderie and realized just how precious it is to have friends who endure difficult situations alongside me. I also learned the spirit of challenge as I reaffirmed my determination to complete the camp no matter what, even while sustaining physical injuries.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Our full-scale volunteer activities in Mongolia began one week into our stay. The first week was spent observing the region, climate, and natural environment to identify architectural approaches we could apply. Since it was difficult to directly apply Korean construction methods or infrastructure information to this environment, we needed an approach that took local conditions into account. As a result, we decided on the direction of our volunteer work in consultation with local residents, and our assigned tasks were set as installing a fence and rebuilding a gazebo (rest area).
Since the fence needed to be sturdy enough to withstand the vast fields and strong winds, we performed repetitive tasks every day: removing weeds, sanding the wood, and painting it. After continuing the same work for over two weeks, we were physically exhausted, but we felt a sense of accomplishment as we watched the fence gradually take shape. We found it deeply rewarding to know that our efforts were directly helping to protect the crops in the fields.
As the fence work neared completion, we began rebuilding the village gazebo. The gazebo was an important space that served as the center for meetings and community life, but the wood had rotted and needed to be replaced. We performed basic tasks such as taking measurements, cutting materials, and hammering nails, while the villagers showed their consideration by transporting materials and preparing meals for us. Witnessing the residents’ continuous support gave us the strength to finish the project, and as we completed the reconstruction faster than expected, we deeply felt the joy of sharing and cooperation.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I applied to the Department of Cadastral Science because I wanted to participate in the planning and development of urban spaces. Specifically, I wanted to contribute to the process of efficiently designing and constructing social infrastructure such as roads and housing, and to that end, I set my sights on working for organizations like the Korea Expressway Corporation or the Korea Housing Corporation. After receiving advice during a career counseling session that this field holds great promise, I researched the Department of Cadastral Science to further refine my career goals.
I determined that the Department of Land Surveying and Geoinformation, which covers a wide range of topics including real estate, urban planning, surveying, and urban administration, is well-suited for developing the skills I need to become the urban planning expert I aspire to be. I am particularly interested in the field of urban planning and aim to acquire expertise in this area. My experience participating in overseas volunteer work to rebuild facilities during high school was a valuable opportunity that allowed me to gain a firsthand understanding of the fundamentals of architecture and infrastructure, even from a non-major’s perspective. The experience of working with my own hands—handling cement and carpentry materials—further solidified my commitment to this career path.
While in college, I plan to actively participate in urban planning projects and architectural volunteer work open to students. For example, I intend to gain practical experience by participating in redevelopment projects for underdeveloped urban areas or in design and architectural volunteer initiatives, and to build a professional network with senior professionals working in the field. By participating in various projects, I will develop practical skills and learn how to collaborate with professionals.
After graduation, I aspire to become an urban space planner who contributes to the community where I grew up. My ultimate goal is to become a professional who actively participates in the process of revitalizing and modernizing the region, thereby helping to improve the quality of life for local residents. Building on the field experience I’ve gained since high school and my practical involvement during college, I will steadily develop my expertise.
