In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences, school activities, examples of consideration and cooperation, and the process of preparing for a career in marine sports during my high school years.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
The principle of “memorizing just one A4 sheet per day” is a study method I developed while balancing sports and academics. Since I was also training, there were many days when I was tired and my concentration wavered, so I needed a practical and efficient way to keep up with my studies consistently under those circumstances.
Specifically, I would summarize the concepts and formulas I didn’t understand or needed to memorize from the problems I’d worked on that day onto a single A4 sheet. When there was a lot to memorize, I wrote in small letters to fit more; when there was less, I drew large tables to organize the information visually. After completing my daily quota of practice problems, I would fill in any conceptual gaps from that day and condense them onto a single sheet. Then, when I returned home at night, I would walk around and review that sheet repeatedly right before falling asleep.
The advantages of this method were that I could immediately fill in any gaps in my knowledge and control the volume of material. Because I had been focusing on sports for so long, there were gaps in my learning here and there, but trying to reorganize everything from scratch would have left me short on time and energy, causing me to burn out quickly. Instead, by summarizing only the gaps that emerged after solving problems onto a single sheet and memorizing it, I was able to efficiently fill in “what I needed to know right now.”
Above all, once my study routine was organized through this method, my anxiety subsided. It was a time when I felt immense pressure to excel at both my studies and sports, but knowing I had a method I could practice every day helped me build a habit and eased my worries. As I experienced the sense of security that comes from knowing a method, I learned the strength to practice consistently.
Major School Activities and Reflections
I’ve loved physical education since I was young and was generally a bit better at sports than others, so at the recommendation of my peers, I became the head of the physical education club and served in that role for three years. The position of head of the physical education club went beyond simply assisting with events; it involved responsibility for safety and team management.
An accident that occurred during my elementary school years became a major turning point for me. While playing soccer, two larger classmates collided, resulting in one breaking his arm and the other chipping a tooth. Although those around me comforted me by saying, “It’s not your fault,” I felt a sense of responsibility as the Physical Education Club President, believing I should have paid closer attention to safety. From then on, to minimize potential risks during PE class, I actively participated in safety training and familiarized myself with emergency response procedures.
In fact, when a friend later slipped off the horizontal bar and fractured his arm, I followed the first-aid training I’d received: I immobilized the injured area with a towel to prevent movement, then contacted the school nurse and called 119 to provide initial assistance. Fortunately, the fracture wasn’t severe, and he was able to recover through physical therapy. Through this experience, I truly realized how crucial preparedness and composure are in an emergency.
Over the course of three years, as I repeatedly dealt with both major and minor incidents, I learned to look after my friends with increasing care and to anticipate various situations in advance. As I prepared for events and managed classes with the mindset of “Let’s be a little more careful” and “Let’s pay a little more attention,” a sense of responsibility naturally took root within me.
Furthermore, the most enjoyable activity during my time as head of the physical education club was the inter-grade sports day. In a setting where competition between upperclassmen and underclassmen was fierce, bringing the class together as one and coordinating opinions was a time that tested both my drive and my consideration for others. I strove to create an atmosphere where students could be encouraged with enthusiasm while also showing consideration for one another. When conflicts were anticipated, I listened to each side’s perspective one by one and mediated, learning just how important it is to respect others’ viewpoints.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
One particularly memorable experience from PE class was helping students who struggled to master certain movements. Some students were naturally slower in their movements, and I concluded that they weren’t simply “unable to do it,” but rather “didn’t know which muscles to use or how to use them.” So, after observing their posture and movements, I began giving them specific instructions.
For example, I’d demonstrate, “Right now, your body is positioned like this, but actually, you should position it like this,” and if they couldn’t follow along, I’d explain in detail exactly which muscles they needed to use. As I encouraged them from the sidelines and helped them practice repeatedly, they gradually gained confidence, and soon there were almost no students in the class who struggled with PE or felt they “couldn’t do it.”
Through this experience, I became convinced that physical education isn’t just about technique—it’s about confidence. I felt great joy and fulfillment in the process of teaching others the tricks of the trade and achieving small successes together. That’s why, even after enrolling in the Department of Marine Sports, I decided I wanted to work in a field where I could interact with people and teach them.
This experience also taught me the value of cooperation. I learned that small acts of consideration from individuals can come together to change the atmosphere of the entire class, and that when a culture of mutual support is established, anyone can participate in the activities. I’ve since developed a dream of teaching sports to more people in a friendly and accessible way.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My interest in marine sports developed naturally from a young age. Influenced by my father, I had the opportunity to experience various marine sports, and those experiences allowed me to enjoy multiple disciplines earlier than most. Since water sports are activities that take place in a aquatic environment, I believe inherent risks are always present; consequently, they hold both greater appeal and greater responsibility.
While interest in and the market for water sports have recently grown, leading to greater diversity and vitality in the field, I have witnessed the reality that there are not enough experts to ensure safety. Given the sudden changes and dangers of nature, a lack of professional personnel can easily lead to safety accidents. Observing these issues, I resolved to become a water sports professional who prioritizes safety above all else.
My goal is not merely to work domestically, but to become a professional active on the global stage. To achieve this, I plan to master a variety of sports, acquire knowledge and certifications in rescue and first aid, and teach people how to enjoy these sports safely and with pleasure. Additionally, I aim to become a systematic instructor by building a balanced foundation of both theory and practical experience through my coursework.
After enrollment, I plan to focus on obtaining water sports certifications as well as training in rescue and first aid, and I intend to actively take advantage of practical training opportunities both on and off campus to develop my adaptability in real-world settings. In the long term, I aim to work in various countries to gain an understanding of cultural differences and contribute to the universal adoption of safety standards. Ultimately, my goal is to become a responsible professional who helps more people safely enjoy water sports.
