In this blog post, I’ll summarize my reflections, focusing on changes in my study methods during high school, meaningful participation in school volunteer activities, and experiences collaborating to resolve conflicts.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
The change I found hardest to adjust to when I entered high school was the “exam format.” In middle school, students with strong memorization skills often received good grades, and since the questions weren’t overly twisted, it was possible to achieve good results even by cramming the night before a test. However, high school exams often tested not just rote memorization, but how well students could apply the principles they’d learned and think critically based on their background knowledge. So I realized that I could no longer maintain my grades by simply focusing intensely to memorize things at the last minute, as I had done before.
After that, I chose to establish a “system” for my studies. Moving away from my previous memorization-focused approach, I developed the habit of first reviewing the table of contents and unit guides whenever I studied any subject. Since the table of contents reveals the overall flow and intended structure of the subject, it was a great help in understanding why each unit was important and how they were interconnected. Once I grasped the overall structure before diving into a unit, I was able to understand the details much more quickly.
Even when I needed to memorize material, I tried to identify and commit the key points to memory within the overall flow, rather than breaking them down into separate parts. Instead of just memorizing facts that frequently appeared on exams, I made an effort to understand what those facts meant within the broader context before committing them to memory. Although this approach took more time, it allowed me to build a systematic understanding rather than fragmented knowledge, and ultimately enabled me to adapt better to new types of problems.
I also realized that the habit of studying consistently every day was crucial. High school studies, which require both understanding and memorization, cannot be mastered overnight. I established a routine of reviewing a set amount of material daily and checking the key flow of the material based on the table of contents. Through this process, I experienced a virtuous cycle: when I identified my weaknesses, I filled in the gaps, and as my understanding deepened, my memorization improved as well.
Major School Activities and Reflections
One of the club activities I chose when I entered high school was volunteer work. It was a popular club with many participants even within the school, and because there were so many members, the teachers found it difficult to supervise everyone at once, so we often split into teams for our activities. At first, I participated simply to gain volunteer experience, but that experience sparked my interest in child psychology and special education.
By chance, the organization where I volunteered for six months was a care facility for children with special needs in the Gyeonggi Province area. While caring for children with Down syndrome and those showing signs of autism there, I became acutely aware of the need for welfare services and specialized education for children with special needs. Although there were many children at the facility, there were not enough teachers to handle them, and there was an even greater shortage of staff with specialized training. As a result, I witnessed firsthand that the quality of care was inconsistent and that there was a lack of appropriate understanding and empathy toward the children.
This experience spurred me to take action. I didn’t stop at simply helping at the facility; I also sought out programs run by the city, accompanied the children to these events, and voluntarily took on the role of connecting them to various experiential activities. Furthermore, the awkwardness and helplessness I felt while interacting with the children—especially the times I was flustered because I didn’t know how to respond when they cried—strengthened my resolve to pursue more specialized training.
As a result, I decided to study child psychology and special education more deeply, and I broadened my practical skills and understanding by researching relevant materials and actively participating in related activities. Volunteering was not merely a way to pass the time; it was a catalyst that turned my interest into concrete action and had a significant influence on shaping my career path.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
During my sophomore year of high school, I was elected class president on the recommendation of my friends, and while preparing for the sports day during the first semester of that year, I faced a major conflict. While discussing the supplies and procedures for the sports day, a clash of opinions arose between the second-year and first-year students, and the argument escalated into an emotional confrontation, leading to a heated meeting. Both grades defended their positions and tried to outdo the other, causing the atmosphere to become very tense.
To resolve the situation, I first gathered the second-year students to talk. Although many of my friends resisted the idea of compromise, I persuaded them to take a step back first. I explained that, as seniors who had already experienced the sports day once, it would be the right thing to do to make some concessions so that the underclassmen could enjoy the experience more. Eventually, our grade decided to make a few concessions first, and I conveyed that proposal to the underclassmen during the meeting.
Surprisingly, this began to ease the tension, and the first-year students responded positively to our attitude by making concessions of their own. As an atmosphere of mutual willingness to compromise spread, we were actually able to work together to prepare for the sports day. Through that experience, I learned that “compromise” is not simply a defeat, but a necessary choice for the community—and sometimes, a wise decision to achieve a greater purpose.
This incident taught me the importance of leadership and taking action in conflict situations. I realized that rather than avoiding or ignoring conflict, accurately assessing the situation and extending a hand first to restore trust is the shortest path to achieving a common goal. Since then, I have made a conscious effort to maintain an attitude of understanding others and to propose compromises, even in minor conflicts.
