In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned through my academic efforts, school activities, and experiences with caring for others and giving back during high school, as well as my motivation for applying to the interior architecture program and my career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I believe that creating a schedule and study plan is a fundamental and essential process for improving grades. However, once I entered high school, I realized that it’s even more important to adapt those plans flexibly to my physical stamina and overall condition. In middle school, I used to force myself to fit into a rigid schedule and plan. At first, my grades improved, but at some point, they stopped rising, and I found that even the slightest loss of concentration caused my grades to drop sharply. Eventually, after entering high school, I changed my approach: instead of dividing my time into minute details, I set goals based on daily or weekly study loads, determined which subjects and how much material I needed to understand, and worked toward meeting those goals.
Once I shed the pressure of having to stick to a strict schedule, I found it much easier to stick to my plan, and I was actually able to cover a greater volume of material more efficiently. Throughout this process, I placed particular importance on managing my health and maintaining my physical condition. Since poor physical condition disrupted my study flow and caused me to falter easily over minor setbacks, I made an effort to incorporate simple stretching and regular exercise into my routine. These habits were instrumental in sustaining my study routine and improving my concentration.
Furthermore, accurately analyzing my understanding of the curriculum was key to creating a study plan. By self-assessing how firmly I grasped the fundamentals of each subject and the extent of my ability to apply that knowledge, I filled in the gaps in my understanding and expanded my capabilities by applying what I already knew in new ways. To this end, I regularly analyzed my grades and level of understanding, and when necessary, actively consulted with my teachers to adjust my study direction.
As a result, I was able to improve my academic efficiency through systematic planning, flexible execution, and consistent self-analysis and consultations with teachers. This experience went beyond simply raising my grades; it served as an opportunity to learn how to manage myself and achieve my goals, fostering self-management skills that I can apply equally when pursuing my major and working on future projects.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
In high school, I participated in the “Craft Club,” where I engaged in hands-on activities creating various items. I took a variety of classes—including flower arrangements, soy candles, and solid wood furniture—but the class where we crafted music boxes and small pieces of furniture from solid wood left the deepest impression on me. Even when made into the same shape, solid wood pieces conveyed entirely different feels depending on the grain and color of the material, and I felt a great sense of satisfaction seeing how the finished pieces warmed up the space when placed in my home.
The process of creating solid wood pieces involved certain risks and was time-consuming, requiring patience. As a result, I was able to cultivate my concentration, perseverance, and attention to detail by consistently attending classes. Through the decorations and furniture I made myself, I came to understand firsthand how small interior accents can transform the atmosphere of a space, which naturally sparked my interest in interior decoration and design. This experience ultimately served as the starting point for my exploration of a career in architectural interior design and interior design.
As an extension of my workshop club activities, I was also tasked with designing the space to display our club’s works during the festival. I proposed that we needed a unified interior design for the entire classroom, rather than simply decorating the area around the pieces. Since the club had been creating works based on keywords set every six months, we decided to decorate the classroom to match the festival’s theme of “Warmth + Gentleness.”
After discussing with my friends how to present the exhibition, I proposed the idea of using a unified color palette but varying the tones to create a rich atmosphere. Ultimately, we decorated the classroom using “beige” tones as the base and carefully adjusted the placement of display tables and props to ensure they harmonized with the artwork. As a result, our club’s booth attracted a lot of attention from students, and some pieces were so well-received that we even received requests to purchase them. I believe this success was due not only to the artworks themselves but also to our consideration of the exhibition space’s design.
Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
During a club activity, my friends and I made soy candles to sell at a flea market, and we donated the proceeds. While we couldn’t expect professional-level quality, we felt a sense of responsibility to make them “properly” since we were offering them for sale, and we went through several rounds of trial and error to meet that standard. We encountered problems such as the scent not coming through properly or the candles not holding their shape, but we solved these issues by trying various methods together with my friends.
During the production process, our attitude of consideration for one another was a great source of strength. When things weren’t going well, we’d take a short break to chat and share snacks to lighten the mood. Rather than scolding each other for mistakes, we encouraged one another and worked together to improve. Thanks to this cooperation and our relaxed attitude, we were eventually able to create soy candles of saleable quality and sold the entire stock we had prepared.
We donated the proceeds from the sale to an organization that helps “children who cannot receive proper medical treatment due to lack of funds.” This idea originated from a news article; after sharing it with my friends and discussing it, many of them resonated with the cause, which led to our donation drive. Although the amount wasn’t large, the experience of sharing what we had instilled a sense of responsibility in me, and it inspired me to continue practicing small acts of giving consistently.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Through my experience planning and decorating an exhibition space at a festival, I deeply realized the importance of interior architecture design. I personally experienced how even small decorations, colors, lighting, and layout can drastically change the atmosphere of a space and influence people’s memories and behaviors. Additionally, by researching relevant articles and studies, I encountered various pieces of evidence regarding the impact of interior spaces on learning and work efficiency; these experiences and resources combined to develop my interest in and confidence in the field of interior architecture.
Through this process, I became convinced that Hongik University—the first institution in Korea to establish an undergraduate program in Interior Architecture—would provide me with a systematic and professional education in this field, which is why I decided to apply. I aim to be a student who goes beyond simply acquiring specialized knowledge and instead applies what I learn to practical settings through experimentation. When creative ideas arise, I will not hesitate to try them out, and I plan to actively participate in departmental activities that allow me to experience a balanced blend of theory and practice.
My specific academic plan is to build a solid foundation in basic design and materials, while simultaneously developing my sense of form and learning human-centered design. Based on the theories gained from my major courses, I plan to create designs firsthand through on-campus studio projects and workshop activities, and to validate various ideas through study groups and discussions with seniors and juniors. Additionally, to strengthen my practical skills, I intend to actively participate in hands-on classes such as CAD, modeling, and materials processing.
In the long term, I do not intend to remain solely in Korea but rather wish to see and experience diverse cultures and designs firsthand. I hope to expand my design sensibilities by taking on overseas training programs or internships to engage with the spatial cultures and trends of various countries. My goal is to become an interior architect who incorporates insights gained from experiencing diverse arts and cultures into interior space design, thereby proposing new design directions that transcend existing frameworks.
I hope to build my skills by studying a balanced curriculum of theory and practice in the Department of Interior Architecture at Hongik University, while collaborating with my peers and taking on new challenges. Drawing on the experience I gain, I earnestly hope to become a designer who creates spaces that enhance people’s quality of life and brings about small but meaningful changes.
