In this blog post, we’ll explore the growth story of an applicant to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Gyeongsang National University, focusing on their plans for college life, the values gained through academics and volunteer work, and their future direction.
Efforts Devoted to Academics and Learning Experiences
I believed there was no “shortcut” to studying. I knew that the program I was aiming for—which attracts the top 1% of students and produces experts—selects applicants based on strong academic performance. However, I didn’t want to resort to cram school or use “shortcuts” that promised quick solutions. Therefore, my approach was to follow the “straight and narrow path.” First and foremost, I was fully committed to class. I prepared thoroughly before and reviewed thoroughly after each class, and I treated every moment of class time as precious as gold, focusing as intently as possible and listening diligently. Even when I was sleepy, I never fell asleep. In three years, I never once dozed off during class. I was always alert and engaged, looking forward to what I would learn and enjoying the experience. Naturally, I actively participated in class, always listening intently and answering questions. As a result, I could sense that my teachers were eager to give me more. They offered me tips on how to study effectively, how to plan my career path, and which study methods suited my learning style. I took these insights to heart and grew as a result. Additionally, I always stuck to the basics when studying. Once a week, I set a specific time and duration to take a practice exam. After taking the exam as if it were the real thing, I reviewed my wrong answers and always reflected on why I had gotten them wrong. Through this reflection, I identified the units where I was lacking and reinforced my foundational knowledge. I spent my weekends productively: one day at the library taking a practice exam, and another day reviewing it and focusing on the topics I felt I needed to improve. I always prioritized exams above all else and reviewed my mistakes more thoroughly than anyone else, striving never to get a question wrong twice. In this way, rather than taking shortcuts, I went back to the basics and studied diligently.
Volunteering at an Abandoned Dog Shelter and Participating in Campaigns
The activities I was most dedicated to were volunteering at an abandoned dog shelter and participating in related campaigns. As a member of the abandoned dog shelter club at my school, I took part in various activities both on and off campus. Through this work, I felt a deep sense of mission. This is because the reason those cute, innocent dogs are injured or sick stems from nothing other than human greed and fickleness. People initially bring these dogs home because they’re cute, but as soon as they become a bit of a hassle or they can no longer afford to care for them, they abandon them. Because of such people, these dogs end up wandering the streets, starving, and becoming outcasts who are scolded by others. If they fall into the wrong hands, they may be abused to the point where not a single part of their body—not even their eyes or paws—remains unharmed. These suffering animals are rescued and brought to animal shelters. But what’s remarkable is that when treated kindly again, they trust and follow people. Even though it was humans who caused their suffering and abused them, seeing them trust and follow people again often brought tears to my eyes without me even realizing it. That’s why I became even more determined to pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian. I felt a strong desire to become a veterinarian so that I could rescue and treat these animals through a more professional system. Additionally, planning and executing campaigns to change public perception was a valuable experience for me. It was an opportunity to understand people’s current views and to realize just how difficult it is to change them. First, we held many internal discussions to prepare for the campaign. After setting the campaign period, we brainstormed together about what to do within that timeframe. Over the course of three weeks of discussions, we started with public perception and debated what efforts we should make based on that understanding. People’s perceptions varied widely. The general consensus was that while animal lovers would readily agree with our views, those who didn’t care for animals would likely turn a blind eye. So, to reach people in a more accessible and engaging way, we decided to kick off the campaign by taking the stray dogs we were fostering for walks while holding signs. We worked hard to prepare for the campaign, which we had planned over the course of a week. We started the first day with a march holding signs, held a photo exhibition on the second day, and by the fourth day, we had taken down the exhibition and began collecting signatures to support the establishment of a shelter for stray dogs. Through this, we met a wide variety of people and heard the opinions of many, ranging from those in favor to those opposed. While I recognized that both sides had valid points, I decided I needed to take a stand and act on behalf of these vulnerable animals. So, I worked even harder, and together with my juniors and seniors, we’ve continued to hold this campaign every six months and engage in ongoing volunteer work.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, Cooperation, and Conflict Management
Starting a Study Group for Friends Who Struggle with Math I personally enjoy math and am quite good at it. I noticed that many of my friends found math difficult, so I wanted to help them. Therefore, I started a study group with friends who were struggling with math so we could study together. We typically spent two hours together on math, and I answered questions and walked through problem-solving for those who didn’t understand. For classmates who were worried about not knowing how to study, I offered guidance and explained study methods in detail. As a result, although there were slight variations among them, several classmates began to see their grades improve. What I felt at that time was the joy of helping others and working together. I felt a great sense of pride in helping others, and I also gained a lot of energy from studying together. It lifted my spirits and motivated me. I truly experienced the joy of working together.
Academic and Career Plans After Entering College
Once I enter college, I will completely shift my mindset from that of a student to that of a professional. I will make a decisive mental shift and approach my classes with the mindset that “I am thoroughly preparing to become a professional.” I will not take things lightly or study half-heartedly just because I’m a student; instead, I will study thoroughly, believing that what I learn now will become an integral part of who I am, and I will strive accordingly. Therefore, to lay the foundation for growing into a professional, I aim to study and work harder during my college years than at any other time in my life. However, I realize that focusing solely on academics might cause me to neglect extracurricular activities, so I plan to join clubs and societies to ensure I balance my studies with weekend activities. The Field: I consider the shelter to be my primary field of work. I believe that if I were to become detached from the field, I would undoubtedly lose my instincts, and I would struggle to stay properly motivated about what I need to do. That’s why I aim to be a college student who studies hard and works part-time during the week, and on weekends, goes out into the field to volunteer more professionally and care for the animals based on what I’ve learned. I want to live my life with more passion and dedication than anyone else.
As for my future career plans, I hope to major in both veterinary medicine and business administration so that I can become a veterinarian who also leads an animal shelter. First, I will become a veterinarian. My greater goal is to become someone who, as a veterinary graduate, expands the necessary facilities and staff. The center will, of course, be dedicated to abandoned dogs. My ultimate dream is to establish and operate a place where animals abandoned by humans can live and heal—to build the most active and comfortable healing center in South Korea.
