In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences and efforts during high school, the school activities in which I meaningfully participated, examples of my consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying to a computer science major and my career plans.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

Ever since middle school, I was deeply immersed in video games. I devoted most of my time after school and during my free time to gaming, and I often found myself thinking about games even during class. Because of this lifestyle, my homeroom teacher even called my parents to the school on several occasions, and at home, I was constantly nagged to cut back on gaming.
However, beyond simply playing games for leisure, I was interested in creating and programming games myself. Since I had taught myself the basic knowledge and prepared for certifications, I had a certain level of confidence in my career path. However, my grades weren’t good, and in my freshman year of high school, my average grade was around a 5, and my motivation to study was low.
It wasn’t until my sophomore year that my mindset finally changed. I realized that even to become a programmer, I needed a solid academic foundation, so I began studying. In particular, to catch up in math and science, I opened my textbooks again and, by thoroughly reading a basic math textbook, worked through the areas I had missed one by one.
As I struggled with the heavy workload in math and science, I organized a study group with friends at a similar academic level. Starting in the second half of my sophomore year, we combined solving applied math problems with group discussions to help each other overcome our weaknesses. Thanks to this approach, my grades gradually improved from a grade 5 average to a grade 3 average, and this improvement reignited my interest in studying and my determination to prepare for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT).

Major School Activities and Reflections

Starting in my freshman year of high school, I developed an interest in game development and tried to teach myself programming languages such as C. I bought textbooks and related software to study on my own, but learning alone was not easy. So, I gathered friends with similar goals and started a knowledge-sharing group.
This activity was modeled after a game development curriculum at a computer academy, with the aim of sharing information and improving our skills together at a student level. We started with just five members, and although we couldn’t get official club recognition due to our small size, we established a basic framework for our activities on our own.
We began with 2D game development. We held study sessions to systematically learn the Unity engine and C#, and when necessary, we utilized free online courses or jointly enrolled in paid courses. After solidifying our foundations, we studied graphics and created simple artwork ourselves. We also completed a mobile art course to develop our own educational curriculum.
As we promoted our group on campus to recruit new members, underclassmen joined us. With over twenty members, we were officially recognized as a club. Using funding from the school, we began developing 3D games using Unity and embarked on a full-scale development process.
With the goal of creating a 3D RPG, we developed storyboards and designed mission sequences. Team members continuously contributed ideas to refine the characters and graphics, and through iterative development and testing, the game’s quality improved significantly. To port the PC game to mobile, we developed a server and implemented a simple chat-based community feature.
Through this experience, I gained hands-on experience spanning planning, development, and design, and gained the confidence that I could turn software I created myself into a functioning service. Club activities served as a crucial platform that not only improved my individual skills but also taught me the true value of teamwork and collaboration.

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

There was an elementary school next to our school, and because there was a major intersection between the two schools with heavy traffic, the safety of young students was a concern. To reduce risks such as abductions, traffic accidents, and getting lost, a “Safe Walk Home” program was launched, in which high school students and parents teamed up to help elementary students return home safely.
Since this volunteer work only required about 30 minutes to an hour a day, I initially joined with the intention of fulfilling my mandatory volunteer hours. However, as I participated directly in the program, I realized just how much the children needed our help and how our every action had a significant impact. Seeing these innocent children who were still unfamiliar with their way home made me feel as if I were looking back at my own childhood, and I felt a sense of responsibility through my collaboration with the other parents participating in the program.
During my volunteer shifts, I carefully monitored the surroundings to ensure the children could return home safely and made every effort to eliminate even the smallest potential hazards. I would head outside as soon as possible after class to check on the children first, often putting my personal plans on hold. By interacting with the same children every day, I came to understand their personalities, and through cooperation with my fellow volunteers, we were able to establish a smooth system for guiding them home.
Through this activity, I learned not only the rewards of volunteering but also the sense of responsibility that comes with being both a volunteer and a supervisor. I experienced firsthand how even a small act of help can have a positive impact on others, and I came to deeply appreciate the value of consideration and cooperation.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I applied to an engineering program through the Regional Outstanding Talent Admission Track. Having set the goal of professionally studying game development and growing into a game developer, I carefully considered my choice of major. During a career guidance class in my senior year of high school, I compared and analyzed computer-related departments at various universities and ultimately chose Dongguk University because it offers a distinctive curriculum tailored to the field I wish to study.
After enrollment, I am eager to actively participate in club activities above all else. My primary goals are to balance academic research with practical activities, increase my record of external awards, and build strong bonds with my teammates to enhance my expertise. Having founded and managed a game development club during high school, I intend to create synergy through knowledge sharing and collaboration in a similar manner at the university.
I hope to achieve meaningful results by participating in external game development competitions, thereby validating my practical skills and building my portfolio. Additionally, as a club leader, I plan to develop my leadership skills by expanding my experience in communicating with members and guiding the organization.
Having been selected for the Regional Talent Admission Track through my school’s recommendation, I will strive to live up to these expectations. After graduation, I hope to become a professional game developer leveraging my creative story design skills, with a focus on releasing game applications primarily on mobile platforms. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to launch a game development platform and a knowledge-sharing platform that I designed and developed myself, thereby creating an environment where even the general public can easily participate in game development.