In this blog post, I’ll outline my academic efforts, school activities, examples of consideration and collaboration, and my college plans in that order.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

Mock exams are typically administered every 3–4 months and often coincide with midterm and final exams. However, I felt that this schedule alone made it difficult to assess my abilities in detail. So, I decided to take my own exams once a month. By evaluating myself at shorter intervals, I was able to identify my weaknesses and strengths more quickly and accurately.
When I took these self-administered tests, if—for example—I had studied English diligently but my scores didn’t improve, it meant there was a problem with my study method itself. In those cases, I would ask my teachers for advice so we could review together where my current approach was going wrong. My teachers, who appreciated my proactive attitude toward developing my own study methods despite not attending a cram school, generously provided me with as much advice as possible.
I felt that math, in particular, required regular review and consultation, so I maintained close communication with my teachers. They accurately assessed my level, assigned problems suited to that level, and guided me to adjust my study methods for each unit. Since I was weak at fill-in-the-blank questions in English, I spent an entire month focusing exclusively on that type of problem.
By addressing my weaknesses promptly on a monthly basis like this, my grades began to rise rapidly. I was able to show my teachers my positive progress, and above all, I experienced a growing sense of confidence that “I can do it.”

Writing about major school activities and reflections

The first reason I joined the essay writing club was because I felt my writing skills were lacking. Since I was young, I’d been more interested in math and science and was accustomed to scientific thinking, but because I didn’t have the habit of reading much, my scores in the language section didn’t improve much. I found book reports and essay assignments given as vacation homework more difficult than others did, and I joined the club to prepare in advance, as I was worried I might struggle with writing reports and completing assignments once I got to college.
Since the Korean language teacher in charge of the club was highly respected at school, I joined without hesitation. Club activities provided me with a wider range of experiences than I had expected. First, the discussions held prior to essay writing helped broaden my horizons. During my freshman year, the format typically involved upperclassmen presenting topics and underclassmen debating them; through this process, I was exposed to diverse perspectives and expanded my thinking.
The most memorable topic was a discussion on economic issues. As I listened to my classmates’ opinions on topics I’d always been interested in—such as the wealth gap, the current economic situation, and the division of roles between large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises—I realized just how much my own thinking had been confined to a personal perspective. Having grown up in a relatively stable family environment, I tended to judge economic issues solely from my own viewpoint. However, after hearing the stories of both my wealthy friends and those struggling financially, I came to understand that true economic awareness requires an understanding of diverse circumstances and situations.
The process of organizing my thoughts from the discussion into writing deepened my thinking. This experience sparked my interest in the profession of “Social Survey Analyst.” A Social Survey Analyst observes various aspects of society, collects data, and uses the results to benefit companies or the nation. As someone deeply interested in analyzing and solving social issues, I decided to major in business administration with this career path in mind.

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

I enjoyed math and found pleasure in the process of solving problems. As a result, many of my friends struggled with math, and some were even on the verge of giving up on the subject altogether. Seeing this, my math teacher introduced a mentoring system called “Math Buddies.” It was a program where students who were struggling with math and wanted help could apply, and high-performing students were selected as mentors on a volunteer basis.
At the time, I was serving as the math club president, so I partnered with a classmate to participate as a mentor. My partner had very little motivation for math and consistently struggled with problem-solving. At first, I felt frustrated and upset, but I decided to look after him with the same care I would give my own younger sibling.
His problem was a lack of confidence. He felt constantly compared to the many students around him who were good at math, and without anyone to support him, he became increasingly intimidated. I started by identifying the areas where they excelled and focusing my praise on those. As I consistently provided positive feedback on their strengths, their previously listless attitude began to change, and they developed the will to solve problems on their own.
What I learned from this experience is that while helping others is difficult, if you identify the core of the problem and persist with the right approach, you can definitely have a positive impact. I realized firsthand that small compliments and consistent encouragement can restore a person’s confidence and foster their growth.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

For me, the belief that “if you work hard, you can succeed” is a value that formed naturally as I grew up. I grew up watching relatives, my parents, and older peers from my childhood achieve success through hard work. My father established himself as a professional by earning various certifications, and my older cousins demonstrated how persistent effort leads to the desired results. Growing up in this environment, I’ve always strived with the belief that giving my best would be rewarded.
However, as I heard the stories of diverse friends in my essay writing club, I realized that the world is far more complex than I had imagined. One friend was more diligent and academically gifted than I was, but due to his family’s financial situation, he had to go abroad to work instead of attending college. Hearing that story forced me to face the reality that “effort” alone cannot solve every problem.
Since then, I have reflected more deeply on the causes and solutions to socioeconomic polarization. As I came to understand that people’s circumstances vary and that outcomes can differ significantly even with the same level of effort, my desire to address structural social issues through data and analysis grew stronger. It was during this process that the profession of “Social Survey Analyst,” which I learned about during a career guidance session, caught my interest.
A Social Survey Analyst is a professional who investigates social phenomena, analyzes data, and proposes policies or strategies based on those findings. I believed this profession could help me understand social issues, such as the wealth gap, and seek rational solutions. Therefore, I plan to major in Business Administration to build a foundation in economics and business, and systematically develop my skills in statistics and survey analysis.
In college, I plan to diligently study the fundamentals of business administration and economics, and develop practical skills by focusing on courses related to statistics and survey methodology. I also intend to broaden my practical experience by participating in fieldwork and internships that expose me to a variety of social phenomena. Ultimately, I aspire to become a Social Survey Analyst who identifies the causes of social problems and helps businesses and the government make rational decisions.