In this blog post, I will summarize my academic efforts, school activities, examples of compassion and service, my motivation for applying, and my career preparation process during my high school years.
Academic Experience and Reflections
During high school, I consistently dedicated myself to my studies with the goal of enrolling in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Having entered a general high school as the top-ranked student, I developed and systematically implemented a college admission strategy and study plan to ensure I would not fall behind my peers who had prepared more intensively, such as students from science high schools or gifted education high schools.
Specifically, while consistently managing my school grades, I prioritized maintaining a Grade 1 in math and science subjects. With the opportunity to apply through the Academic Excellence Admission Track upon graduation in mind, I went beyond simply achieving high grades and actively pursued self-development through school activities and club participation. Considering the influence of the admissions officer system, I strove to present myself as a student who balanced public education-based learning with diverse school activities.
I designed my study approach to be highly practical. I allocated study time based on the importance of each subject, maintaining a rough 1:2 ratio between language and foreign language subjects and math and science subjects. Among these, I devoted a similar amount of time to science as I did to math, but in practice, my interest in science often led to greater immersion.
For example, while I studied math consistently for about two hours every day to keep up with the curriculum and prepare for exams, I found the learning process itself enjoyable in biology and chemistry, so I would often watch online lectures at home for additional study. Through in-depth learning via online lectures and interest-driven previewing and review, I was able to maintain high grades in science inquiry subjects, and I consistently applied this study method—which involved allocating time by subject and pursuing in-depth learning based on my interests—throughout high school.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
At school, I participated in two academic clubs based on my interests. The school encouraged students’ creative and independent activities, and as a result, the necessary personnel and budget for running clubs were relatively well-provided. I actively took advantage of this environment to gain diverse hands-on experience through my involvement in biology- and chemistry-related clubs.
During my freshman year, I joined the “Great Nature Exploration Club,” a biology-related club. In this club, we engaged in hands-on activities such as raising animals and plants, observing the hatching process, and preparing specimens. By directly experiencing experiments and practical exercises that are rarely covered in regular classes, I was able to see firsthand how theoretical knowledge is applied in practice, which greatly stimulated my intellectual curiosity.
One particularly memorable activity was an imprinting experiment with chicks. Imprinting is the phenomenon where a chick recognizes the first object it sees immediately after hatching as its mother. Through this experiment, I directly observed a chick recognizing a specific student as its mother. This experience allowed me to deeply appreciate the wonder of verifying biological phenomena through experimentation and the joy of inquiry.
In my sophomore year, I joined the chemistry club. This club operated on a structure where upperclassmen taught chemistry to underclassmen, and members exchanged questions and engaged in discussions, making it highly beneficial for in-depth learning with friends who shared the same interests. The discussion- and hands-on activity-centered approach added depth to my learning and kept me so engrossed that the two hours flew by in an instant.
Through the chemistry club, I also gained experience handling ignition devices and fireworks while preparing for the school festival. By designing and building ignition devices and time-delay ignition systems, I gained hands-on experience with the principles of mixing substances and their practical applications. Collaborating with club members to conduct chemistry experiments closely tied to everyday life—all while prioritizing safety—helped me realize both the value of applying specialized knowledge and the importance of teamwork.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
A prime example of how I practiced consideration, sharing, and cooperation during my school years was a blood donation campaign linked to my religious club activities. I was active in a Christian club formed for students who, due to the nature of boarding school, found it difficult to attend weekend religious services; there, we held Sunday worship services and shared our thoughts and feelings. The club had a tradition of regularly collecting donations and using them for meaningful causes.
During my sophomore year of high school, we planned a blood drive ourselves to put our year-end donations to a more meaningful use. Going beyond simply encouraging blood donations, we received education on the blood donation process and safety, rented a blood donation van, and conducted the campaign on campus and in the surrounding area. A nurse and a blood donation educator accompanied us, and we used the donations we had collected to personally prepare souvenirs and incentives for participants.
During the preparation process, we collaborated with club members to divide and handle various tasks, such as gathering supplies, coordinating training schedules, and managing on-site operations. Thanks to the dedication of our members, who stuck to the schedule despite the cold weather, the event concluded successfully. On the day of the event, we held signs to explain the campaign’s purpose to passersby and actively encouraged them to donate blood; we felt a deep sense of fulfillment when more people participated than we had anticipated.
We donated the remaining funds to the Red Cross and shared the joy of achieving our common goal. Through this experience, I gained a deep understanding of the importance of collaboration in planning and execution, consideration for others, and the impact that even small efforts can have on society.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I aspire to become a “T-shaped” professional. I believe it is important to possess deep expertise in a specific field while also having the ability to integrate that expertise with other areas. I strongly resonated with the words of the Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH, and I have strived to grow in that direction myself.
My specific area of interest is environmental and energy engineering. My research goal is to mitigate air and water pollution as well as greenhouse gas issues through the utilization of natural energy sources and clean technologies. I believe that the pollution and environmental problems created by advances in science and technology can be solved through science and technology once again, and I particularly wish to contribute to research focused on developing chemical processes to remove pollutants.
Throughout high school, I built a foundation of relevant knowledge and maintained strong academic performance. At the same time, through hands-on experiments and study sessions in the chemistry academic club, I developed practical experience and problem-solving skills. Although I have not yet achieved specific research results, I possess the foundational skills, clear goals, and, above all, the passion required for this field. I have decided to apply to the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH because I believe it is the ideal environment for me to develop my research capabilities and grow.
In college, I plan to deepen my expertise in chemical process design and environmental engineering, and I aim to implement actual pollution reduction technologies through experiments and projects. Furthermore, I aspire to grow into a researcher and professional who can contribute to solving sustainable energy and environmental issues through interdisciplinary collaboration.
