In this blog post, I’ll summarize the academic efforts I made during high school, my participation in school activities, my experiences with consideration and collaboration, as well as my motivations for applying to college and my career plans.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

I spent my high school years guided by the belief that “there is no single ‘right answer’ to studying—only a ‘right approach.’” While everyone says, “You have to work through this problem set” or “You have to attend this cram school,” I believed that since everyone has different personalities and circumstances, it was more important to steadily move forward in my own diligent way rather than blindly following such “right answers.” Therefore, I tried to cultivate an attitude where I wouldn’t be easily swayed by the advice of others, but would clearly define what I needed to do and carry it out.
Specifically, I began my study routine by writing in my diary every day to reflect on the day. After finishing my studies at night and before going to sleep, I would review whether I had neglected my studies that day or lost focus during class, and then make a plan for the next day to address any shortcomings. This habit of self-reflection was a great help in quickly identifying and correcting small mistakes or lapses in concentration.
I set my plans meticulously and realistically. I even broke down my commute time, assigning different study tasks for the segments before and after transfers, and set small tasks to complete during breaks so I could stay focused at all times. By allocating time down to the minute and consistently completing manageable amounts of work without overburdening myself, I was able to maintain a steady study load.
I always used a checklist to verify whether I had completed my tasks. By distinguishing between what I had and hadn’t done according to my plan, I was able to view my efforts objectively and maintain consistency without feeling overwhelmed. As these small, repeated habits accumulated, I was able to maintain an attitude of diligent, steady study rather than obsessing excessively over test results.
As a result, my stress decreased, and my anxiety about whether “the way I’m doing this is right” largely disappeared. I learned that what matters is not following the “right answers” that others suggest, but rather building up my efforts day by day in a way that suits me.

Description of Major School Activities and Reflections

During high school, I was very curious and took an interest in various activities; among them, my involvement in the traditional percussion club held great significance for me. I had shown interest in various fields since I was young, and throughout middle and high school, I gained diverse experiences through activities such as the invention club and animal-related programs. After watching a performance by the traditional percussion club upon entering high school, I was captivated by the diverse sounds of the instruments and the energy of the performance, which naturally led me to join the club.
Each instrument in the traditional percussion club had a distinct character. I experienced the profound emotional impact created when instruments with different timbres—sharp sounds, dull sounds, soft resonances, and loud resonances—came together in harmony. The sheet music was surprisingly simple, but I was impressed by how each instrument seemed to embody the person playing it, capturing their unique voice. Playing a variety of instruments directly stimulated all five of my senses and helped relieve the stress from my studies.
The greatest thing I gained from my time in the Pungmul Club was “teamwork.” I used to prefer fast-paced, solo work and enjoyed projects where my ideas stood out. However, a concert is not a stage where one person shines alone. I had to listen to others’ sounds and adjust the volume and rhythm of my own playing accordingly.
At first, it felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but through the process of harmonizing our sounds, I discovered the joy of a performance created together. Through my activities in the Pungmul Club, I realized that there is joy in achieving something together by setting aside competitiveness, and since then, I have come to value my role and harmony within group activities even more.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

My experience reorganizing the school bulletin board was a firsthand example of how consideration and cooperation can bring about small changes. The school bulletin board was covered only with old materials, and news about competitions and contests wasn’t updated in a timely manner, so we often missed out on valuable information. Frustrated by this situation, I offered to take charge of managing the bulletin board.
First, I categorized the bulletin board by sections—such as contests, competitions, and scholarships—and used small wooden dividers to create separate sections, including dedicated spaces for the newspaper and broadcasting clubs. Every morning, I checked the faculty office for official notices and consistently monitored the local education office, volunteer organizations, and student communities for new updates. Once I organized the information I gathered by category and posted it on the bulletin board, the content became much richer.
As information spread through the bulletin board, members of the broadcasting and newspaper clubs naturally began to participate, and a culture of collaboratively discovering and posting news developed. As a result, students started winning contests or receiving scholarships after seeing the information on the bulletin board. In particular, when I received a thank-you note saying, “I received a scholarship,” I clearly felt that even a small effort could provide tangible help to others.
This experience taught me that greater change is possible when we act with the mindset of “I’ll do my part” rather than thinking, “It doesn’t matter if I don’t.” Since then, I’ve participated more actively in various volunteer and club activities, and I’ve learned firsthand how sharing information positively impacts the community.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

As a curious person, I have always had a strong desire for new experiences. When I recently read an article suggesting that people will need to change careers multiple times in the future, I felt happy rather than anxious—even though others might have felt otherwise. This is because I view the opportunity to learn by experiencing new fields multiple times as a positive thing.
Because of this disposition, I chose to major in Consumer and Child Studies. Both consumers and children are topics that will continue to receive significant attention in future society. Companies constantly seek to analyze consumer patterns, and children, as future members of society, are at the center of education and welfare. I believed that studying these two fields would greatly help me understand the diverse trends in society.
I plan to enroll in the Department of Consumer and Child Studies at Incheon National University to study these two pillars in depth and prepare for my career path based on that foundation. Specifically, I hope to work creatively in the advertising field, drawing on my academic understanding of consumer behavior and child development. Advertising is a field that requires a keen ability to interpret consumer behavior and trends, as well as ingenious ideas and expressions that capture people’s attention.
In addition to my undergraduate studies, I hope to build the expertise needed to lead the advertising industry by taking related courses in the humanities and business administration whenever the opportunity arises. Ultimately, my goal is to grow into an advertising professional who stays ahead of the curve in identifying trends and creatively bringing ideas to life—someone who can embrace and enjoy the many changes that come with the job, drawing on a wealth of diverse experiences.