In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences, school activities, examples of consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivations for applying to college and my career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
My school operated a level-based supplementary class system that utilized periods 7 through 9 to provide supplementary and advanced instruction in core subjects. Centered on Korean, English, and Math, this system divided students into Classes A, B, and C so they could study at their own level. At first, I thought the system had good intentions.
However, since the actual class placement criteria simply divided internal grades into three brackets (based on a 9-grade scale), many problems became apparent. For example, even among students in the same Class A, there was a significant gap in progress and comprehension between those in the top 1st grade and those in the bottom 3rd grade. In some cases, students who were just one grade apart showed almost no difference in actual performance. Since the grades—calculated by combining midterm exam scores and performance assessments—were determined through a relative evaluation system, there was a wide variation in ability even within the same grade, which reduced the effectiveness of the advanced learning.
Judging that leaving things as they were would increase the likelihood of students becoming dissatisfied with the public education system and turning to private tutoring, I decided to propose improvements. I argued that instead of organizing classes based solely on grade rankings, we should reform the system in a way that actually supports learning. Specifically, I proposed conducting surveys to identify the areas students struggled with on a “unit-by-unit” basis for each subject and incorporating those results into the curriculum.
For example, if the units students found most challenging in mathematics were calculus, functions, and statistics—in that order—the core of my proposal was to organize and operate specialized classes for each unit in that sequence. My suggestion resonated with more students than I had anticipated and was adopted as school policy, taking effect the following semester. Through this experience, I developed practical problem-solving skills and a sense of responsibility by identifying systemic issues, proposing solutions, and driving tangible change.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
During high school, I developed a deep interest in Korean language courses, and from my sophomore year onward, I actively explored courses in rhetoric, reading, and composition. As part of this, I served as class representative for the rhetoric course, assisting with class management and the coordination of practical assignments.
The rhetoric class involved many practical assignments, such as debates, speeches, and mock interviews, so students frequently had to record or produce their work. I took on the role of recording class sessions with a camcorder, organizing the files, and uploading them to the online community, ensuring that all students could review their performance assessment results. Since the recording and editing were directly linked to our academic grades, I approached the task with great care.
In the debate class, the class president had many responsibilities, ranging from selecting topics to recruiting participants for both sides and arranging the audience. When choosing a topic, I gathered everyone’s opinions through a show of hands, and after recruiting participants, I fairly assigned roles by adjusting the number of participants. On the day of the debate, I served as the moderator, ensuring that speaking times were strictly adhered to and mediating or imposing sanctions when the debate strayed from proper protocol, thereby managing the class to ensure it proceeded according to its objectives.
In speech and presentation classes, I created and shared reference materials, as well as resources that would be personally helpful to students. To illustrate how to overcome speech anxiety, I edited and presented a clip from the movie ‘The King’s Speech’. I also produced a self-made video (UCC) comparing desirable and problematic presentation behaviors, helping students identify areas for self-improvement.
In conversation and interview classes, I participated directly as a conversation partner to assist my classmates with their practice. During conversation performance assessments, if there was an odd number of students, I served as a partner for the remaining student; I also suggested to the teacher that we pair students by number, believing that random pairing was fairer. In interview classes, I played the role of an interviewer, preparing context-appropriate questions to ensure my classmates’ performances went smoothly.
Although I sometimes lacked time to prepare for my own performance assessments because I was always helping others, I was recognized by the teacher for my responsible attitude as class president and received an incentive. Through these activities, I came to understand the value of leadership, time management, and a willingness to help others.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
I had many opportunities to put the values of consideration and sharing into practice while participating in my high school broadcasting club. The club was very popular, so I had to audition to join. Initially, I hoped to become a scriptwriter and prepared for a script-writing test, but I failed the audition due to nerves on the day of the audition.
The next day, a senior in the broadcasting club heard my voice and suggested I try being a DJ. Thanks to this unexpected opportunity, I took on the role of a DJ reading listener stories during lunch and dinner breaks. The senior, considering my original desire to be a writer, split the DJ duties between two people and assigned me a segment where I wrote the script and hosted it myself.
The segment I created was called “Stories of Hope: Helping Neighbors in Need,” and it involved collecting and organizing stories of people at school or in the surrounding community who needed help, which I would then read aloud. On one occasion, a student at our school sent in a story about a friend whose family was facing hardship due to a fire. As I read the story, many students felt deeply moved and suggested we raise funds through the broadcast.
Students who heard the broadcast inquired about how to donate, and the broadcasting club organized a fundraising drive to deliver the funds directly to those in need. Through this experience, I realized that the media can be more than just a means of conveying information—it can serve as a bridge connecting people in need—and I felt a great sense of fulfillment as a DJ.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Through my activities in the broadcasting club, I established my goal of entering the field of cultural content planning, particularly in broadcasting media and communication. In the long term, I aspire to work as a lead writer who plans and produces broadcast and radio programs and writes scripts.
To this end, I plan to major in Korean Language and Literature to build a foundation of knowledge in the field, and to pursue Cultural Studies as a minor to broaden my understanding of media and popular culture. Upon enrolling in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Dongguk University, I intend to first gain an understanding of literature as a whole and the context of Korean culture through foundational courses such as Modern Literature, Literary Studies, and Cultural Studies.
After solidifying my foundational knowledge, I will take specialized courses such as Modern Poetry and Modern Fiction to develop my ability to analyze and interpret literary works, while also engaging in creative writing to cultivate my creativity. Furthermore, through courses in Oral Literature Theory and Contemporary Korean Culture Theory, I intend to academically expand upon the oral communication and expression skills I have acquired in rhetoric classes.
In my interdisciplinary major in Cultural Studies, I plan to study Media Industry Theory, Popular Culture, and Communication to cultivate the practical thinking skills necessary for content planning and management. Above all, the most important goal is to accurately identify the public’s needs and produce content that satisfies them. I will continuously research methods for creating content that creatively reflects reality by combining the historical and literary insights gained from Korean Literature with cultural studies analysis.
