In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts, campus activities, examples of consideration and collaboration, as well as my motivation for applying and preparation process, based on a sample personal statement for applicants to the Department of Physics at Korea University.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
When I entered my sophomore year of high school, I felt a strong need to make a plan. This was because I felt I had been studying rather carelessly up until my freshman year. Furthermore, as I entered my sophomore year, I realized that the scope of material had suddenly expanded and there was much more to keep track of, which created significant psychological pressure. If I didn’t reassure myself that I had a plan in place and was making progress accordingly, the pressure would cause me mental stress. Therefore, to address both my academic and mental well-being, I began studying according to a structured plan. Since I didn’t attend cram schools or hire tutors—I relied solely on my own study plans—I went through a lot of trial and error. However, by referring to various books on planning, I discovered a method that worked for me: setting plans on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis.
At the end of each month, I would go to a café, sit quietly by myself, and spend the entire day drawing up my study plan for the following month’s exams. Because this was so important, my parents didn’t say a word even if I took the day off from studying. I would go to the café and start listing, one by one, the exams coming up that month and the material I needed to cover. For example, in March, there would be the initial semester assessment and the March mock exam. Since I could start studying for midterms in April, March was a month where I had relatively more time. After figuring that out, I determined the scope of my studies for the month.
In months where I had relatively more time, I would choose one unit I was weak in and focus on mastering it thoroughly. Focusing on language, math, and foreign languages, I would select one unit to conquer at a time, then create a weekly plan, and from there, break it down into daily schedules. I faithfully followed these plans, and if I didn’t complete everything, I would identify the gaps and schedule them for the following month. By studying this way, I was able to make steady progress and study without feeling anxious.
Extracurricular Activities: The Joy and Teamwork I Gained from the Rocket Launch Club
When students enter high school, most prepare for their personal statements by joining essay-writing clubs, the school newspaper, or volunteer groups. However, I wanted my club activities to be interesting and enjoyable—activities that would allow me to use a different part of my brain than I did for academics. That’s why I joined the rocket launch club—a club I’d heard about even before entering this high school, and one that was actually one of the main reasons I was so eager to attend this school in the first place. It turned out to be much more fun—and much more challenging—than I’d expected, but it was an activity that allowed me to spend a truly joyful and fulfilling time, from which I gained a great deal.
My fondest memory was building and completing the rockets. We designed, built, and tested various types of rockets—including those launched by combustion, from water, and using air pressure. Although there were actually more days of failure than success, the anticipation and sense of pride I felt every time we completed one, along with the excitement of wondering just how far it would fly this time—those joys kept my heart racing even when I was exhausted from studying. That’s why, even on nights when I was swamped with schoolwork and had to pull an all-nighter, I made sure to participate in club activities and never stopped experimenting with new ideas.
And this was possible because all of our club members shared the same passion. Our members, who were deeply interested in physics and chemistry and dreamed of becoming engineers in those fields, comforted one another whenever things got tough. It wasn’t just comfort like “You must be having a hard time, cheer up”—instead, we’d come up with fun things to do together and find joy in them. That’s why the joy I gained from this club activity was, above all, the joy of being with my friends.
To be honest, before that, I used to think I could study just fine on my own, and that having friends around would only distract me. Perhaps because I’m an only child, I was used to keeping to myself and wasn’t the type to pay close attention to other people’s feelings or thoughts. But through club activities—assembling and building rockets together, and seeing my peers support each other through difficult times—I felt like I learned how to live in harmony with others for the very first time. I feel that if it weren’t for this experience, I would have remained a fool who thought he was the best and acted all high and mighty on his own.
Finally, the research methods I explored through club activities, seeing the things I’d researched actually take shape through my own hands—and the sense of pride I felt when that rocket, even if it was just an assembly kit, launched—all of this sparked in me a genuine desire to become a scientist and build rockets myself. Until then, my dream had been to enroll in a department with good job prospects and earn a lot of money, but now things have changed. I’ve found the dream I truly want, and to pursue it, I’ve become a student who studies with enthusiasm, earnestly hoping to be admitted to the Department of Physics at Korea University. I now have a goal for my studies and find joy in them.
Examples of Practicing Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation During School Life
Early in my senior year of high school, when everyone felt they should be studying but I was too distracted to focus, our homeroom teacher, noticing our confusion, gave us a special mission. It was to go on a weekend walking trip. At first, we didn’t know what a walking trip entailed, so we agreed just because we thought it sounded fun—unaware of the great challenge that lay ahead, we were simply excited. The trip—which involved walking from our school to an island six hours away, eating a bowl of kalguksu, and walking back—was a journey we embarked on after being tempted by our teacher’s promise to treat us to kalguksu if we made it there on foot. And as we walked, we realized just how grueling a six-hour walk really is.
It was early spring, but it was chilly, and as we walked, we got hot. Thinking we were just going on a field trip, we’d packed our backpacks full of snacks—which only made our steps heavier. To make matters worse, the friends who’d brought drinks were constantly collapsing from the weight. After three hours, some of us started getting leg cramps. In fact, our teacher was so concerned about our well-being that she and her fellow teachers drove up in a car to join us, allowing the students with cramps to rest in the car for a while. Even so, walking for six hours was still quite a challenge. Nevertheless, we all managed to walk the full six hours, were treated to kalguksu by our teacher, and then walked all the way back home.
The source of our strength to do this was the fact that we were together. Whenever walking became too difficult and I wanted to give up, I would look back and see my friends walking alongside me, and we would comfort one another. As I realized just how empowering it is to know “I’m not alone,” I came to understand what our teacher was trying to tell us. He wanted to tell us that even though senior year is tough, we have nothing to fear as long as we’re together. That experience taught me just how much strength comes from being together, and that’s why our class has come together to enjoy our senior year.
Motivation for Applying and Preparation Process
Right now, all my desktop wallpapers are photos of the universe. From images capturing a comet exploding, to photos of stars being sucked into a black hole, to distant shots of galaxies revealing countless galaxies like our own—I often find myself gathering my thoughts while looking at these images of the universe.
This is because I believe that one day, I will be there. That is precisely why I have a big dream of attending the Department of Physics at Korea University, the top university in the country. I want to become a physicist who amazes the world by learning and mastering my field alongside the best professors and peers.
That is why I have first and foremost fulfilled my duty as a student by studying diligently. Even if what I’m studying now feels tedious, I believed that if I cultivate the habit of studying now, I’ll be able to maintain that same dedication when I eventually pursue my path to becoming a physicist. So, by meticulously planning and following through on those plans, I’ve built the resilience to tackle any academic challenge.
Furthermore, if I am admitted to college, I will dedicate myself fully to attending classes diligently and absorbing the material. I also want to participate as much as possible in hands-on labs and practical activities. I want to be someone who doesn’t let theory remain just theory, but rather builds upon it to create practical applications, tries them out in real life, and thereby gains and quickly masters more practical knowledge. That is why I believe college is where the real journey begins, and I feel I must make even better use of my time starting then.
That’s why I believe I need to start making an effort now to develop habits that will help me use my time more effectively then. As part of that effort, I’ve been writing in my diary every day. In my diary, I reflect on my day and also write down the things I want to do once I’ve achieved my dreams—even if some of them seem far-fetched—and I’m jotting down a wide variety of ideas.
