In this blog post, I’ll share my motivation for applying to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and my preparation process, drawing on my academic efforts, school activities, and experiences with empathy and collaboration during high school.
Academic Experience and Reflections
I’ve loved science since middle school, and upon entering high school, that interest extended specifically to chemistry. As the curriculum became more challenging and I began to feel limited by my grades, I started thinking about how to improve my understanding and raise my scores. At first, I found chemical formulas difficult to grasp when presented as mere strings of letters, so I tried studying by drawing diagrams. However, I eventually realized that this method was time-consuming and inefficient.
After exploring other methods, I concluded that building a solid foundation was crucial. Believing that even complex chemical equations or lab problems could be solved step by step if the concepts and theories were clear, I changed my study method to repeatedly reading the concepts, ensuring I understood them accurately, and then memorizing them. While studying past exam questions might be helpful for college entrance exams, I judged that learning focused on fundamental concepts was more necessary for long-term understanding, so I studied by selecting good problems and reviewing them through problem-solving.
As a result of consistently applying this study method, my grades improved, and I began studying other subjects in the same way. Even in areas where I thought I had a solid grasp of the material, I realized my foundation was weaker than I had imagined after re-examining them. Through this experience, I learned that the most fundamental and basic elements are important not only in academics but also in daily life, and I resolved to stay true to the basics in everything I do.
Write about major school activities and your reflections
I felt that spending so much time sitting every day was weakening my physical stamina and lowering my immunity, so I joined the school badminton club. Unlike the casual games of badminton I used to play with friends, the club’s level was much higher, and at first, I repeated drills like running and hitting the shuttlecock 100 times to build my basic stamina. As my skills gradually improved, I began participating in various activities, such as practice matches and representing my class as a player in the school sports festival.
The most memorable moment was when the entire club participated in a small-scale local youth badminton tournament. To be honest, I hadn’t even dreamed of winning a prize—my goal was simply to make it through the preliminaries. However, thanks to unexpectedly good teamwork, we easily advanced to the main round. My stamina held up even during the long matches, and above all, I was able to achieve this result because I respected and trusted the friends who played alongside me.
Through club activities, I realized firsthand that building a solid foundation of physical fitness makes it easier to maintain good posture while studying for long periods, reduces fatigue, and improves learning efficiency. I also reaffirmed that fundamentals are crucial in badminton, academics, and interpersonal relationships, and learned the lesson that cooperation and mutual respect lead to positive outcomes. I’ve come to feel that, no matter what I do in the future, I must build a strong foundation and manage my physical fitness simultaneously.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
My experience of upholding basic courtesy and trust toward my teammates during club activities allowed me to directly appreciate the value of cooperation. When we participated in a tournament together, we were able to achieve better results than expected because we respected each other’s strengths and weaknesses, showed consideration for one another, and divided our roles accordingly. If we hadn’t respected our teammates or believed in their abilities, we likely wouldn’t have even made it past the preliminaries.
Another experience with cooperation and conflict management arose while resolving a family conflict over my career path. My parents wanted me to choose a major that would lead to stable employment, while I had a clear vision of the field I wanted to pursue, so there was initial conflict. Rather than arguing emotionally, I decided to prepare calmly and have a reasoned conversation.
Rather than simply stating my position, I gathered valid reasons for why I wanted to major in Pharmaceutical Sciences. I researched the curriculum, post-graduation career paths, and the number of potential employers and industries, compiled this information into objective data, and explained it to my parents step by step. As a result, my parents listened to my arguments, and I learned how to communicate logically without being swayed by emotions.
Through this process, I learned that calmly communicating with evidence—rather than letting emotions take precedence—is far more effective for resolving conflicts, and I realized once again how important it is to consider the other person’s perspective.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My decision to major in Pharmaceutical Sciences was rooted in my consistent interest and curiosity in chemistry. While studying chemistry, I became convinced that building a solid foundation in basic concepts would be more beneficial in the long run, and that conviction led me to choose this major.
In preparation for my career decision and to resolve conflicts with my parents, I personally researched and compiled data on the department’s curriculum, post-graduation career paths, and the number of potential fields and companies where I could find employment. When I explained my decision by presenting objective evidence rather than relying on mere emotional arguments, my parents came to understand my choice, and this process served as valuable preparation for effectively communicating my career path.
Academically, I have built a solid foundation in my major by repeatedly studying fundamental concepts and reviewing them through problem-solving, while also cultivating habits to enhance my learning efficiency through physical fitness management. Moving forward, I plan to steadily build the fundamental knowledge required for my major and continue my practical preparations by researching information necessary for my intended career path.
Ultimately, I believe it is more meaningful to choose a field I am passionate about learning rather than opting for short-term convenience. Therefore, I intend to continue mastering the fundamentals and, through logical communication and thorough preparation, take one step at a time toward my career goals.
