In this blog post, I’ll summarize my experiences and reflections, focusing on my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of consideration and cooperation, and my career preparation process.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I developed an interest in economics and set a goal to become well-versed in economic principles. I wanted to build my skills, compete in economics-related contests, and earn certifications to achieve good results, but since it was my first time taking the subject in high school, it was difficult to excel right from the start. So, I decided to lay a solid foundation through self-study and build my economics skills, starting by studying the textbook step by step. After thoroughly reading the textbook, I used reference books and advanced study materials in parallel, and eventually expanded my scope of study to include introductory economics textbooks.
The key to my ability to sustain this in-depth study was my habit of using time as efficiently as possible. Instead of cramming all my economics study into a single, designated block of time, I approached it as a natural part of my daily life. While I studied other subjects systematically according to a set schedule, I made economics a habit by integrating it into my daily routine, allowing me to steadily build my knowledge. For example, I would read a glossary of economic terms during 10-minute breaks, and whenever I had unexpected free time, I would open my economics textbook. As I became familiar with more economic terms, I found newspapers and books easier to read. I studied by first solidifying basic concepts through the textbook and then identifying unfamiliar concepts in advanced study materials.
When I had longer blocks of time, I read economic newspapers to broaden my general knowledge of current affairs, and I compared articles from various media outlets—rather than relying on just one source—to foster a deeper understanding. I clipped important articles separately for review, and on weekends, I would place my high school-level textbook alongside advanced texts like Mankiw’s ‘Principles of Economics’, comparing the depth of their explanations as I studied. By consistently building my economic knowledge in this way—utilizing both spare moments and longer periods—I developed a much deeper understanding than my peers.
Major School Activities and Reflections
During my sophomore year of high school, I joined an economics study group where we thoroughly read ‘Mankiw’s Economics’ together. Since all the study group members were students planning to major in economics-related fields, our goals and interests aligned well. Once our learning reached a certain level, we began to feel the desire to apply the theories in real-world situations. Coincidentally, we came across an announcement for the “Business School Project” supported by the Korea Institute of Startup Promotion and decided to participate as a team.
The Business School Project is a program designed to help young people gain hands-on business experience, and it was a rare opportunity for a high school student to engage in economic activities. We gathered during our study sessions to discuss business ideas and brainstormed concepts that could be sold on campus, even if they didn’t quite reach the level of a full-fledged startup. I proposed raising initial capital by participating in school festivals and flea markets, and then using that capital to generate profits by running a market stall. The other team members agreed with this idea, and we clearly defined our target audience, market characteristics, and business objectives in accordance with the outline of a business plan.
Since our target audience was school students, it was important to first identify their interests and purchasing motivations. We distributed surveys to each class to investigate what items students needed and what they wanted to buy. The survey results showed that many students preferred everyday items related to K-pop idols, and among practical items, tumblers, stationery, and blankets were particularly popular. Based on this, we produced stationery, blankets, and T-shirts featuring idol images and initials, using project grants to cover production costs.
The products were sold over the two days of the festival and received a positive response. The main reason for this success was that we accurately identified what our friends wanted through the survey and produced products accordingly; setting practical items at low prices to lower the barrier to purchase also contributed to sales. When sales volumes varied by product, we cleared out inventory by creating bundled packages on the spot and adjusting our pricing strategy, ultimately selling most of the products.
Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and Reflections
The experience gained through the business school project went beyond simply generating profit and led to social giving. The net profit from the festival, after deducting initial investment costs, was just over one million won, and we decided to use this amount to organize another flea market as an act of giving back. The primary purpose of the flea market was not to increase our capital but to share the profits with the local community through social enterprise.
To this end, we collected clean, used household items from students on campus and operated a flea market based on the “Anabada” concept. We set up the market as a space to collect various items—such as used clothing and school supplies—for exchange or resale. During the process, some of the capital was returned to the sellers, while at other times it was converted into additional profit. Ultimately, we generated additional profit slightly exceeding our initial capital, and we decided to donate those proceeds as planned.
While searching for a beneficiary, we learned of a local organization serving a welfare blind spot near our school, and we delivered the proceeds through that “Culture of Sharing” foundation. To ensure the full net proceeds were delivered, we visited the foundation in person and also donated some of the items collected at the market. Through this process, I learned that economic activity is not limited to the mere pursuit of profit but can circulate within a network of connections with the local community. I realized that the economy and sharing are not separate concepts but are interconnected, and that profit gains greater meaning when it is returned to society.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
During high school, I consider organizing and participating in an economics study group to be my most valuable decision. In my freshman year, I mainly studied on my own. While self-study had the advantage of allowing me to plan and manage my time independently, it also had limitations: it was difficult to resolve uncertainties, and the scope of information I could acquire was limited. Therefore, to achieve more efficient and comprehensive learning, I formed a study group. By studying with friends who had diverse interests and goals, I was able to significantly expand my knowledge and engage in more in-depth learning.
Through the study group, we resolved difficult concepts through discussion and knowledge sharing, and by collaborating, I learned to view problems from a broader perspective. Additionally, by participating in a business school project, I gained valuable experience applying theory to practice through hands-on market research, product planning, production, and sales. By taking on challenges with friends—activities I would have found difficult to attempt alone—and sharing the results with the outside world, I personally experienced the value of cooperation and sharing.
Based on these experiences, I have decided to apply to the Department of Economics at Yonsei University. Building on the passion for economics, study habits, and collaborative experiences I developed in high school, I aspire to become a student who studies more deeply and shares knowledge at your university. By studying economics in depth at Yonsei University, I will further strengthen my theoretical foundation and become a person equipped with the knowledge and capabilities to contribute to society in the future.
