In this blog post, I’ll focus on my interest in geography and my career plan to become a teacher.

Motivation for Pursuing This Field

I once traveled to Yeosu along the Jeolla Line. As I passed through Daejeon, I was struck by the sight of the endless plains and the Seomjin River stretching out before me. Later, while studying Korean geography, I learned that these were the Nonsan Plain and a river terrace. I found it fascinating that such vast landscapes could be captured within a small map, and I was captivated by the idea that, with just a map, I could look down on the world as if it were scaled down.
That’s why geography class—which my friends didn’t find particularly interesting—was a joyful time for me; it felt like an adventure, and I felt as though I were traveling the vast world without even moving. As I became fascinated by geography, I realized that, as the foundation of human habitation, it serves as the basis for understanding other disciplines. Since people’s cultures and historical backgrounds are often rooted in geographical factors, I came to believe that geography is an essential field of study. However, I find it regrettable that public awareness of its importance does not match its significance. My goal is to educate children about the importance of geography, teach it in a more accessible way, and guide them so that it serves as a solid foundation for their studies in other disciplines.

Academic Plan and Goals

Once I enter college, I first want to gain a variety of experiences. In particular, I plan to travel extensively; while traveling abroad is appealing, I’d like to explore South Korea—the country where I live—more thoroughly first. I believe that anyone studying geography should have a deep understanding of the land they inhabit, and experiencing firsthand the knowledge I’ve learned from books will greatly benefit my academic studies.
In addition to my major in geography, I intend to systematically study the humanities as a whole. By integrating these studies with geography, it will be much easier to remember and understand history and cultural history, and through interdisciplinary learning, I will strive to understand not only geography but also a broader range of academic fields. Furthermore, to gain a basic understanding of GIS—a topic currently under active discussion—I will not neglect my computer studies and will work to create materials that support my geography classes using computers. Outside of my major, I plan to meet a variety of people through club activities to develop my interpersonal skills and, whenever possible, have in-depth discussions about education with friends who also aspire to become teachers.

Plans After Graduation

After graduating from college, I aim to become a teacher as soon as possible. I will prepare for the teacher certification exam to enter the teaching profession, and once I become a teacher, I plan to constantly explore how to convey knowledge more effectively to students and how to spark their interest. I consider it my calling to lay a solid academic foundation that will serve as a basis for students as they study other humanities subjects, and to help them grow by nurturing and encouraging each student’s individual aptitudes; I will devote as much time and attention to this as possible.
On a personal level, I would like to visit outstanding schools in developed countries whenever possible to observe how geography education is conducted. Based on these experiences, I hope to provide higher-quality lessons to my students, and I believe that proper education will serve as the foundation for these children to become the talent of the future.

Self-Introduction

When I was in school, I exchanged letters with a friend in Australia, and the fact that people lived not only in my country but also in other places sometimes felt like a fantasy. Since I couldn’t go to Australia myself, I would often look at a world map to see where Australia was, and whenever I looked at a world map or a globe, I was amazed that people actually lived in all those places. My interest in the earth naturally grew, and that interest turned into a deep affection.
During the summer vacation of my first year of high school, while participating in a rural volunteer program with a youth organization, I stepped barefoot on the soil and was deeply moved by the earth’s vitality—a memory that remains vivid to this day.
The earth possesses vitality in and of itself, and it is all the more precious as the foundation upon which we stand and live. It was because of this deep affection for the earth that I dreamed of becoming a geography teacher, and I aim to be a teacher who not only imparts geographical knowledge to children but also helps them realize the value of the earth itself.