In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences and school activities during high school, examples of my acts of kindness and generosity, as well as the qualities required of a teacher and the efforts I’ve made to prepare for this role.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

Dreaming of becoming a teacher, I have been studying consistently with the goal of attending a teachers’ college. Although I was maintaining high grades, I proposed forming a study group with friends who shared the same goal in order to achieve even better results. Rather than simply getting together to study, we organized a study group where each of us took charge of the subject we were best at and explained it as if we were giving a lecture. Through this process of teaching and learning from one another, I was able to review the material thoroughly, and my friends gained a clear understanding of the parts they didn’t know, which proved to be a practical help.
I was good at math, but I tended to make mistakes often. As I taught my friends, explaining concepts slowly and repeatedly practicing problem-solving, my mistakes gradually decreased. Preparing lectures made me feel a sense of responsibility because it directly impacted my friends’ learning, and whenever they asked questions about topics they didn’t understand, I had to meticulously review the fundamental concepts and theories to ensure I conveyed the information clearly. This process became a thorough review for me as well, creating a synergy in learning for both myself and my study group members.
As we organized the fundamentals of our respective subjects, planned lessons, and explained the material, our learning effectiveness improved. A few months later, when our school grades began to rise, we felt a great sense of accomplishment. In particular, seeing that our grades had improved slightly not only in the subjects we were confident in but also in the subjects we had learned from each other, we truly experienced the power of collaboration—something different from studying alone. Through this experience, I began to consider various study methods, and I felt that the act of teaching others was an important opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a teacher.

Major School Activities and Reflections

I actively participated in the mentoring program. I learned from upperclassmen about study methods, college life, and life experiences, while I shared my study tips and strategies for managing school grades with underclassmen. Through mentoring, I broadened my perspective by hearing the experiences of diverse people, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment when the underclassmen achieved better results.
Mentoring was about connecting people, and it played a crucial role in communicating and building relationships through conversation. I used to feel awkward talking to people outside my circle of friends, but through mentoring, I was able to overcome that awkwardness and my introverted nature. I learned how to approach others first, how to communicate effectively, how to steer conversations in the direction I wanted, and how to listen attentively to others, thereby mastering the attitudes necessary for building social relationships.
The school debate competition was a great help in developing my public speaking skills. I wanted to overcome my fear of speaking in order to articulate my ideas clearly and teach effectively in front of the students. Upon carefully reflecting on why I was nervous, I realized the root cause was a lack of sufficient understanding of the topic. Trying to debate with only a superficial understanding meant I couldn’t present solid arguments, which eroded my confidence and ultimately caused my voice to tremble.
While preparing for the debate competition, I thoroughly collected, analyzed, understood, and memorized all the materials with the determination to make every piece of information my own. As a result, I was able to present my arguments without trembling in the finals and achieved the victory. This process taught me an important lesson: not only do speaking skills matter, but a precise understanding of the topic is the foundation for speaking confidently in front of an audience.

Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

Among the volunteer activities in which I actively participated, the most memorable was a pottery painting activity with friends with disabilities. I signed up for this opportunity believing that volunteering goes beyond simply providing practical assistance—it is about people coming together to communicate and create joyful experiences. When working with friends who have developmental delays, additional explanations and consideration were needed during the sessions, so at first, I felt a bit at a loss about how to help them.
However, as we worked together, I realized that they are fully capable of fulfilling their roles in society. What mattered most was not the disability itself, but the sincere communication between people. Once my genuine feelings—such as “I want to talk with you” and “I want to do something fun with you”—were conveyed, they opened up and communicated actively, making the pottery session an even more enjoyable experience.
Through this volunteer experience, I felt that consideration and sharing are what truly connect people. I came to believe that the essence of volunteering lies not in the perspective of “helping,” but in creating opportunities to communicate, empathize, and share the values we can all enjoy as human beings. I have resolved to be mindful of any unconscious discrimination that might arise when meeting people in the future and to consistently maintain an attitude of consideration and sharing.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I believe that “trust” is crucial in all relationships. As an elementary school teacher, I believe that proper education is only possible when built on a foundation of trust with the children. From friendships with peers to the trust between teachers and students, trust with parents, and even sincere communication with strangers, I have always reflected on what efforts are necessary to build trust in various relationships.
To build trust, I prioritize sincere communication and keeping my promises. I believe the starting point for trust is speaking thoughtfully—thinking twice or three times before speaking and always treating others with respect. As an elementary school teacher, I believe the most essential quality is to respect the children, engage with them respectfully, and guide conversations by understanding their perspectives.
Furthermore, teaching children requires the ability to express oneself clearly and coherently. I believe it is crucial to explain curriculum content in an easy-to-understand manner and to convey it at the children’s level. Through study groups, school debate competitions, and mentoring programs, I have met diverse people, engaged in dialogue, and studied and mastered “how to express myself clearly and coherently” while working toward common goals. In particular, the experience of teaching others firsthand in study groups allowed me to practice explaining curriculum content simply and to gain hands-on experience in lesson planning.
I have learned that when teaching, the most fundamental—yet often difficult to uphold—principle is to tailor instruction to the learner’s level, rather than using “myself” as the standard. I intend to further study and master this educational philosophy and attitude in the Department of Elementary Education at Seoul National University of Education and put it into practice.
Third, I believe that the quality an elementary school teacher must possess is a “spirit of service.” Teaching children is a service-oriented endeavor that begins with a spirit of care and sharing. I believe that sharing what I have and nurturing children so they grow up properly stems from this spirit of service. Therefore, I will make practicing this spirit of service a natural part of my daily life, and I will continue to reflect on and put into practice concrete ways to realize the values of care and sharing.