In this blog post, I’ll share a refined draft of a high school personal statement written with the Department of Food and Nutrition at Korea University in mind, organized around my academic efforts, school activities, examples of empathy, and my motivation for applying.

Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences During High School

From Home Economics Class to Aspiring Nutritionist: I’ve always loved cooking, so I thoroughly enjoyed my home economics classes in high school. Since the classes allowed me to learn not only about cooking but also about other fields I was interested in, I participated with great focus. Whenever a dish stood out to me, I would go home to look up the recipe and take notes, or I would clip recipes I saw in magazines, articles, or on TV. Naturally, I became interested in careers such as chef or nutritionist.
However, since I didn’t know much about the nutritional content of various ingredients or the theoretical aspects of cooking, I paid extra attention whenever these topics were covered in home economics class. Then, after seeing photos of unusual school lunches online, I began to wish that our school could also serve healthy and delicious meals. As I became interested in the school lunch menu, I started studying the various meal options.
I created my own nutrition notebook by organizing the nutritional information I learned in home economics class and the information I gathered online. By looking at the menus and estimating the nutritional content, calories, and portion sizes of the ingredients to calculate the total calories, I began to dream of becoming a nutritionist. Through this process, I learned that even the smallest details can serve as study material, and that when you’re interested in something, you develop the determination to figure things out on your own rather than letting them pass you by.
I realized that anything can serve as a starting point, that it’s worth taking on a challenge as long as you have the will to do so, and that there is always something to learn from the experience, regardless of the outcome.

School activities I found meaningful and worked hard on during high school

Because of my interest in cooking and diet, physical education class was also important to me. It was a time to maintain my physical fitness and health, and I found it fascinating to learn about nutrition and the human body from a different perspective in physical education theory. During free periods outside of regular classes, many of my friends would stay in the classroom, so I would often go for a run alone or play badminton with friends. Since I had a lot of sedentary time, PE class was a precious and meaningful time for me.
In particular, the annual sports festival was a special day, and I participated actively—whether by helping move supplies as a staff member or demonstrating techniques as a representative during class. It was a school activity just as important to me as the time I spent cooking or enjoying food.
Home economics class was particularly enjoyable and meaningful. It was a deeply rewarding experience to put what I learned in class into practice with my friends and see them enjoy the food I made. While cooking schools help improve skills, they have limitations when it comes to gaining specialized knowledge, so I built a close relationship with the school nutritionist, sought her advice, and received much more practical help.
The process of presenting the food I prepared to the school nutritionist for evaluation and receiving feedback on nutritional balance and areas for improvement was very beneficial. It was especially meaningful because it gave me the opportunity to immediately resolve theoretical questions, and I found joy in studying and exploring on my own. Furthermore, as I came to understand the challenges faced by those who create the school meal menus, I became less critical of school lunches and had the chance to reflect on my own tendency to leave food uneaten.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, Cooperation, and Conflict Management During School Life

The day before a field trip, a friend looked downcast because family circumstances made it impossible for them to prepare a packed lunch. Although I didn’t hear the full story, I decided that helping with the lunch was something I could do, so I persuaded them to just enjoy the field trip without worrying. On my way home, I thought about what to pack for her lunch and put together a balanced menu based on the nutrition knowledge I’d learned.
I prepared the ingredients the day before and made whatever I could in advance, then got up early on the day of the field trip to finish the rest. Thinking about foods my friend would like while preparing the meal made me feel excited and happy. My friend enjoyed her lunch and had a wonderful time on the field trip. As a token of gratitude, my friend even washed the lunchbox container thoroughly for me.
Through this experience, I learned that a small act of sharing can be a great gift to others, and I resolved to continue sharing and showing consideration to anyone I can help in the future. I realized that sharing isn’t limited to financial or grand gestures, and I felt a sense of fulfillment and joy myself.

Reasons for Applying to This Program and Why Korea University Should Admit Me

I carefully considered which university’s Department of Food and Nutrition to apply to in order to become a competitive professional nutritionist. The Department of Food and Nutrition at Korea University aims to cultivate professionals capable of actively responding to changing times and societal demands, thereby contributing to the improvement of the public’s nutritional quality and welfare. I believe it is a place where I can grow into a professional equipped with the expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
I also had a personal desire to learn under the guidance of an excellent faculty and through a curriculum designed to help students grow into proactive professionals capable of analyzing the causes of real-world problems and proposing solutions through rigorous laboratory work and hands-on training. I believe that studying in this environment will enable me to become a competitive, highly skilled nutritionist.
Since high school, I have consistently analyzed recipes and information I’ve collected, experimented with making them myself, and identified areas for improvement. While in high school, I built a close relationship with a nutritionist teacher to overcome the limitations I faced as a high school student, and I am confident in my determination to continue acquiring more specialized knowledge and in my ability to demonstrate this through action.
Drawing on the knowledge I have gained in the Department of Food and Nutrition at Korea University, I aim to become a highly skilled and competitive nutritionist. If selected, I will demonstrate through my actions the goals and attitude I have described, and I will grow into a nutritionist recognized by universities and companies alike, becoming a source of pride for Korea University.