In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences and school activities during high school, along with examples of my acts of consideration, generosity, and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying and my career plans.

Writing About My Academic Experiences and Reflections

I enjoyed studying and had a dream of becoming a teacher, so I tried to study more diligently than anyone else. When I entered high school, the workload increased dramatically, and I found it overwhelming to rely solely on my previous approach of tackling a task from start to finish in one go. At some point, I began to feel stressed by the excessive workload, so I decided I needed to find a way to concentrate intensely for short periods rather than just plowing through for long stretches.
First, I wrote down the short periods of time I could utilize in my daily routine. I realized I could secure about 40 minutes each way for my commute to and from school, plus about 80 minutes including breaks and the time between classes, and a portion of my lunch and dinner breaks—totaling approximately 4 hours of spare time. To use that time efficiently, I made a detailed plan every night for what I would study the following day.
I created a list so that when a short window of time opened up, I could get right to work without hesitation, tackling each item one by one. For example, I used these spare moments to review content that could be memorized through short, repeated sessions for each subject—such as four-character idioms in Korean, math formulas, English vocabulary, and memorizing maps in geography. Tasks that had previously seemed overwhelming became much easier when I broke them down into smaller parts and tackled them consistently.
I felt a great sense of pride in the process of building up my achievements by utilizing spare moments, and my interest in studying was reignited. I came to find joy in making the most of every minute, and even now, I maintain the habit of focusing intensely for short periods—feeling a deep sense of fulfillment as I inch closer to my target grades.

Writing about major school activities and reflections

While in high school, I needed an outlet to calm my mind when I felt anxious or worried, so I joined the calligraphy club. Calligraphy brought me even greater peace of mind than I had expected. The club required us to submit one piece of work per quarter, and at first, I thought producing one piece a month wouldn’t be too much of a burden. However, I realized that everything—from learning how to hold the brush to mastering the technique of applying ink—was difficult and required tremendous patience and time.
Through the process of writing and rewriting a single sheet over and over to complete a piece, I experienced a sense of calm and inner stability. Beyond emotional stability, this activity led to various practical contributions. Our works were donated to places in need of exhibitions, such as subway stations and nursing homes, and through meticulous preparations—like serving refreshments and attaching descriptions to the pieces—we helped create a warm atmosphere in the exhibition spaces. Seeing the positive reactions from visitors gave me a sense of fulfillment in bringing joy to others.
Furthermore, my experience volunteering at an orphanage to teach calligraphy was particularly meaningful. Although my skills were not perfect, I taught the children the basics of calligraphy based on what I had learned over the past year and donated the supplies I had prepared; I found this process deeply rewarding. The way the children looked at me there made my dream of becoming a teacher even clearer. Having always enjoyed teaching others, the sense of responsibility and mission I felt through volunteering led me to seriously consider the role of a teacher. This experience solidified my dream, and I continue to work toward that goal today.

Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

I had a strong interest in “cultural diversity” and multiculturalism, and I believed that minorities should not be disadvantaged within the school. This conviction led to concrete actions during my time as the president of the student club association. To ensure that diverse clubs could come together to enrich school culture, I consistently proposed policies to the school to support small clubs.
At the time, the school had a policy to disband clubs with five or fewer members. I proposed relaxing this rule to disband only clubs with three or fewer members, and as a result, several clubs were able to continue. Seeing my policy proposal implemented and these clubs actually continue their activities made me truly realize the significance of my role.
Beyond policy, I also strove to provide practical help on a personal level. I personally helped small clubs that were short on manpower when preparing for festivals, sports days, or club presentations. For example, the manga club had experienced a sharp decline in membership due to internal conflicts, making it difficult for them to run their exhibition and nail art booths. After finishing setting up our own club’s booth first, I stayed late into the night to help them set up theirs. I also gathered friends to support them and consistently collaborated by lending a hand whenever they needed it.
Many friends thanked me, but I, in turn, felt grateful for their passion to preserve their clubs even in difficult circumstances. Through these efforts at empathy and communication, I was able to build good relationships with a diverse group of friends, and the experience of supporting one another to sustain our community taught me a valuable lesson.

Efforts and Preparation Related to My Motivation for Applying and Career Plans

My greatest goal is to become a teacher who instills a sense of possibility in students. A statement made by a celebrity in the past—that they “wanted to be someone who lives according to their thoughts, rather than someone who thinks according to how they live”—resonated deeply with me. Around that time, I was volunteering at an orphanage and, as the president of the student club association, helping various clubs, which allowed me to truly experience what it means to help others; that experience made me reflect on the meaning of education.
On the other hand, some teachers told me that, realistically, it is difficult to provide meticulous care to every student according to one’s personal intentions in the classroom, and this caused my dream to waver for a time. The question, “Is it truly possible within our educational system for a teacher to identify each student’s potential and guide them toward new paths?” kept circling in my mind. However, as the words I had heard earlier combined with my own experiences, I reaffirmed my dream with renewed resolve.
I consider myself someone who turns thoughts into action. Since my teenage years, I have gained experience putting my ideas into practice through club activities and volunteer work, and I believe this attitude will be a valuable asset as I grow into a genuine educator. In college, I plan to pursue a major in Korean Language Education to achieve a balanced understanding of both theory and practice. By diligently completing the curriculum and fieldwork, I intend to develop teaching methods and counseling skills that will enable me to understand and guide students.
In terms of my future career, I aspire to become a certified teacher who not only imparts academic knowledge to students but also nurtures their ability to think and act independently. I will continue to prepare for this role with a mindset focused on treating students with sincerity, putting my ideas into action, and helping them experience positive change.