In this blog post, I will outline my motivation for applying to the field of intelligent robotics and my career plans, based on my academic experiences and extracurricular activities in high school, as well as examples of my acts of kindness and generosity.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I developed a deep interest in science through the process of verifying the theories I learned in school through hands-on experiments. In particular, I remember an experiment I conducted in my freshman year of high school to measure vitamin C content. In an effort to help my mother with her skin concerns, I selected fruits, vegetables, and beverages rich in vitamin C, blended them into juice, and used a dropper to add iodine solution—from one drop to about 70 drops—while photographing and observing when the liquid turned blue. I recorded the number of iodine drops required both when the color change began and when it turned a deep blue, and found that samples with high vitamin C content changed rapidly from brown to blue with relatively few drops of iodine.
Although the experiment took a long time due to unexpected variables and difficulties in preparing materials, the experience of visually confirming scientific principles through observation and analysis was extremely beneficial. After the experiment, I searched for related research materials and studied the daily intake and benefits of vitamin C further; through this process, I learned the importance of preliminary research and developed an attitude of solving problems independently through trial and error.
Through school club activities, I also gained hands-on experience with the principles and applications of electric motors. In the club, I learned about electric motors and their operating principles by building aerorockets, gunpowder rockets, LED turn signals, and vibrating cars. I also once drew up design plans and submitted them to a teacher for the invention of a laser line marker capable of drawing lines on the school playground. Although the project failed because we could not secure the necessary equipment, this experience taught me that equipment, support, and collaboration are essential to turning research into reality.
Based on the knowledge and experience gained through these diverse experiments and activities, I have firmly resolved to become a robotics engineer who benefits people and contributes to enhancing Korea’s scientific competitiveness.
Major School Activities and Reflections
From a young age, I’ve had a strong inclination toward solving problems independently and engaging in creative exploration. After watching a robot show at a science museum, I became curious about how small robots maintained their balance so well, which led me to independently investigate the concept of center of gravity. I verified the principles by drawing the centers of gravity of squares, pentagons, and polyhedra myself, and discovered that for polyhedra, the center of volume is the same as the center of gravity. I proved that the center of gravity of a tetrahedron is the lowest among all regular polyhedra, and I also learned that complex polyhedra must be broken down into simpler shapes to simplify the calculations.
Although it often took a long time to find the center of gravity—especially when calculations became complex—by drawing diagrams and writing numbers directly on paper, the process felt meaningful because it demonstrated how the concept of balance underpins our daily lives. As I researched how the center of gravity is applied in skyscrapers and tetrapods used in breakwaters, I marveled at the mathematical principles involved. The experience of discovering and proving these principles on my own deepened my interest in mathematics and helped me recognize its value in real life.
Another activity involved analyzing regular patterns found in works of art as tessellations through a personal report I wrote for my school’s science club. After examining the work of a Dutch artist, I used computers and books to create semi-regular, quasi-semi-regular, and non-periodic tessellations on multiple occasions. I confirmed that plane tessellations are possible with equilateral triangles, squares, and regular hexagons, and I also realized that it is difficult to fill a plane with regular pentagons under various vertex conditions.
Through this research, I began to view buildings and structures that I usually pass by from a different perspective, and when I gave one of my own designs to my mother to use as a tablecloth, I truly experienced how mathematics can offer practical beauty. This experience solidified my dream of combining mathematics and science to create robots that will benefit people in the future.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
I volunteered as a math and science mentor at school to share my talents. One friend was under a lot of stress because his math grades weren’t improving despite attending a cram school, and I was saddened to realize that there were more students struggling with math than I had expected. I decided to help by focusing on helping them understand the problem-solving process and the principles behind the applications, rather than just memorizing formulas.
Out of consideration for my friend, who was attending a cram school, I used lunch breaks and weekends to study the difficult parts with them. I guided them from the basics to advanced principles by patiently explaining the concepts I had organized and how to apply them to problems. Through this process, I also developed regular study habits, and by checking my friend’s understanding, I was able to address any areas where they needed improvement.
As a result, my friend’s grades improved significantly, and he even achieved a perfect score; witnessing this gave me a greater sense of fulfillment than seeing my own grades improve. This experience taught me that better results come when we understand and respect others’ weaknesses and work together. I also realized that volunteer work is meaningful only when it comes from the heart, and I resolved to become someone who takes the initiative to reach out to those in need.
Moving forward, I intend to use my talents in math and science to help more people and put the spirit of sharing into practice. In particular, after enrolling in the Intelligent Robotics Program at the School of Convergence Technology at GIST, I plan to conduct diligent research so that the robots I develop can help people in difficult circumstances achieve self-reliance and improve their quality of life.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My childhood experiences of building with LEGO and robots and taking machines apart naturally sparked my interest in robots and machinery. Upon entering high school, my desire to study robotics systematically grew stronger, so I began to define my career path and researched relevant universities and curricula. During this process, I learned about the Intelligent Robotics Program within the School of Convergence Technology at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), and my goal naturally became to enroll in this program.
I was greatly drawn to the Intelligent Robotics Program because it broadly covers the fields I’m interested in, such as the design and application of artificial intelligence systems, the design and control of rehabilitation robot systems, and human-robot interfaces. I believe robot technology has tremendous growth potential in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and as a robotics engineer, I aim to contribute to improving human lives through my research. To this end, I intend to thoroughly learn the necessary specialized skills and fabrication capabilities at GIST.
Given that countries around the world are transforming their industrial structures through artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things, robotics technology will play a crucial role in supplementing labor, increasing manufacturing productivity, and improving quality of life. I believe it is necessary to embrace these changes with an open mindset, focusing on the positive value they bring rather than harboring vague fears about the development of the robotics industry. I aspire to become an engineer who stands at the center of these changes, striving to promote the widespread adoption and popularization of robotics technology.
In particular, I believe it is crucial to conduct research that ensures the benefits of robotics reach marginalized groups. I aspire to become a scientist and engineer who develops technologies to assist the socially vulnerable and promotes universal access to these benefits. Through my studies and research at GIST, I aim to grow into a researcher equipped with practical problem-solving skills in areas such as rehabilitation and assistive technologies, human-robot interaction, and artificial intelligence control. I will strive to improve the quality of life for everyone.
