In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned through my academic experiences and school activities during high school—including examples of compassion and collaboration—as well as my career plans after entering college.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
In high school, I chose “Ethics and Philosophy” and “Life and Ethics” as my social studies courses. Since I selected these subjects with the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in mind, I studied strategically to earn good grades in both. I believed that learning simply to understand the subject matter differs in purpose and method from studying strategically to achieve high test scores. Therefore, to study “Life and Ethics” as efficiently as possible, I applied two study methods. One was to identify connections with EBS materials to predict potential exam questions, and the other was to use sketch notes to organize concepts.
Both methods were applications I learned from the online lectures I regularly took. During the lectures, the instructors always emphasized the importance of reading the EBS textbooks, and in fact, there was a strong correlation between EBS content and the CSAT. I focused on thoroughly reading and analyzing the “In-Depth Materials” section in the CSAT Special Lecture and CSAT Completion textbooks, striving to accurately understand the relevant current affairs discussions. For example, I carefully read and highlighted in-depth passages—such as those discussing the pros and cons of abortion—to track my progress and deepen my understanding.
The second method involved taking notes using sketch notes. A sketch notebook is a notebook with blank, unlined pages; instead of mind-map-style note-taking, I chose to use this to organize my notes in a freer and more visual way. I drew pictures on the pages and wrote key terms in large, eye-catching letters. For long explanations, I either summarized them briefly or attached photos, incorporating visual elements into my notes. This method suited my study style well and helped me maintain higher concentration during review, significantly improving my learning efficiency.
Major School Activities and Reflections
During high school, I was active in the Green Doctors volunteer group, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and has branches nationwide. Green Doctors was a club dedicated to putting humanitarian values into practice by allowing students to experience medical volunteer work, including international disaster and emergency relief efforts. I remember taking an oath at the launch ceremony and pledging to faithfully carry out the duties assigned to me as a volunteer. For me, as someone aspiring to become a medical social worker, the experience of participating in international medical volunteer work was deeply rewarding in itself.
Club activities were broadly divided into domestic and international efforts. Domestically, I received training in medical volunteering and regularly volunteered at hospitals, where I was able to directly observe the diverse needs of patients. For international activities, I was dispatched to countries such as China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Mongolia to participate in emergency relief, international medical care, and emotional support. Despite the limitations of being a teenager, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment from gaining experiences that were of great help to the local communities.
For our domestic activities, we received training in CPR and first aid. Through repeated practice on human-body models, we mastered the sequence and intensity of rescue breathing and chest compressions, gaining the confidence to perform these procedures calmly in emergency situations. We also visited an international medical center to learn about different types of medications, as well as the characteristics of medical tools and equipment, thereby acquiring the practical knowledge essential before participating in overseas or hospital volunteer work. By familiarizing myself with various aspects—including the management of tools and supplies needed for disinfection and X-ray procedures—I was able to adapt well to the actual volunteer work.
My regular hospital volunteer work took place at a general hospital near my school. Although the activities were relatively simple—such as keeping patients company and giving them hand and foot massages—I always paid close attention to hygiene and courtesy. We strictly adhered to the basics, such as wearing hygiene vests, following disinfection procedures, and washing our hands thoroughly for the next patient. During conversation sessions, we helped patients find emotional stability by asking about their hometowns, areas of pain, current moods, and satisfaction with hospital services; through these experiences, I was able to confirm my aptitude for a career as a medical social worker.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
During my school breaks, I participated in overseas medical volunteer programs. Through programs offered by the volunteer group, I gained experience each semester and participated in a total of three overseas volunteer trips. As a result, I was able to visit various medical facilities in Myanmar, Mongolia, and Thailand and meet patients of diverse nationalities. My overseas volunteer experience was more than just participating in volunteer work; it was an opportunity to develop multicultural understanding and collaboration skills.
Since it is difficult for teenagers to take on all responsibilities directly in the field, I had to complete the training provided in advance and undergo a short internship period. First, I volunteered as an interpreter at a free clinic for foreigners in Seoul, where I learned basic conversation and common questions, and practiced dialogue with a friend to prepare for real-world situations. When I actually met foreign patients, I found that I could communicate effectively using simple words, short sentences, and gestures—even without fluent conversation—and I gradually adapted.
Building on my experience as an interpreter, I was deployed to overseas sites, and my activities in Thailand and Myanmar are particularly memorable. There were many child patients in both countries, making our support all the more necessary. In Thailand, I participated alongside students from multicultural families, which gave me the opportunity to bond with them and gain a better understanding of our differences. My duties primarily involved organizing medications, managing supplies, cleaning the clinic, and maintaining hygiene standards; I also provided simple interpretation for patients waiting in the waiting room or simply kept them company to help ease their anxiety.
When caring for child patients, I paid close attention to ensure they didn’t cry or wander off, while providing basic treatment and comfort. Through these activities, I personally realized the importance of medical volunteer work and social welfare activities, and I learned the true meaning of compassion, sharing, and cooperation through hands-on experience. What impressed me most was the fact that even a brief visit or conversation could bring great comfort to patients and their families.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My dream is to become a medical social worker. I have noticed that public awareness of the social work field is still relatively limited, and within that field, I would like to work in medical social work to help raise awareness of the diverse areas of social work. Medical social workers are professionals who assist with patients’ treatment and recovery within hospitals; they work as part of a team alongside doctors and nurses to contribute to the overall health and well-being of patients. I believe this line of work suits my aptitude well.
Once I enter college, I plan to devote myself fully to my major studies. In addition to taking relevant courses such as child welfare, elder welfare, and medical welfare, I would like to engage in in-depth study and discussions with my peers on topics such as “What does social work mean to me?” and “Why is it necessary for medical social workers to be present in hospitals?” Furthermore, I intend to research and discuss the current state and areas for improvement in South Korea’s medical welfare system (e.g., the national health insurance system, the separation of prescribing and dispensing functions), and conduct research using statistical data and surveys.
I also plan to begin preparing for professional certifications during my undergraduate studies. With the goal of obtaining a Level 1 Social Worker certification, I will complete the required courses during my undergraduate program, and after graduation, I will use my clinical training period at a hospital to build professional experience before taking the Medical Social Worker certification exam. After obtaining my Medical Social Worker certification, I hope to work as a social worker at a large hospital, supporting critically ill patients and their families and improving their environment, thereby contributing to enhancing expertise and public awareness in the field of medical social work.
