In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned through my academic, club, and volunteer experiences in high school, as well as my motivation for attending college and my career plans.

Academics and Extracurricular Activities

Academic Experience

Although I was a humanities student, my math grades were very low, which was a constant source of concern. So, I resolved to manage my time efficiently and study by learning math concepts, principles, and formulas step by step. First, I created a daily schedule to manage my math study time and allocated time regularly on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to thoroughly master the fundamentals of math without wasting any time. During this time, I used online lectures to understand the concepts I was struggling with.
For functions and statistics—the areas I found most challenging—I started with the basics and repeatedly watched free online lectures to understand the principles and concepts. Additionally, to cultivate good study habits, I used a planner and set quarterly academic goals, which I carefully tracked. Although I really disliked math and found it difficult, I didn’t give up; instead, I persevered and immersed myself in it.
When I encountered a problem I didn’t understand, I would first ask friends who were good at math, seeking clarification on topics like how to calculate statistical values or interpret function graphs. At the start of each semester, I set at least five goals to achieve and assessed my own academic progress each semester. This method proved quite effective for me, given my previously low math scores.
Curious about how math is used in everyday life, I read a practical math book titled ‘The World Is Math’, and the mathematical principles that had previously seemed so difficult suddenly became easy to understand. As a result of this consistent effort, my math grade—which was a 5 in my first year—improved to a 3 in my second year and a 2 in my third year, and I gained both a love of learning and self-confidence. I also realized that persevering with the mindset that “if I try, I can do it” is the shortest path to success.

Club Activities

My involvement in the school’s public relations club turned out to be a much more enjoyable and rewarding experience than I had expected. Although I joined to develop my skills as an announcer, the club allowed me to socialize with seniors, juniors, and friends, giving me a deeper understanding of our school and fostering a sense of affection and pride for it. By working together to accomplish tasks that would have been difficult to do alone, I learned the joy of cooperation and the spirit of teamwork.
The most memorable experience was planning and running a booth for the club’s presentation event alongside my seniors. Divided into several groups, we created our own booths and prepared for the event while communicating constantly with fellow members. By listening carefully to those who offered different opinions, I developed keen observational skills and active listening abilities; I also learned how to assess situations objectively and propose my own ideas appropriately. I believe these skills were instrumental in enhancing my abilities as an announcer.

Event Preparation

For the promotional event, each team consisted of two upperclassmen and one underclassman. We set up booths and engaged with visiting students by playing games and handing out gifts. By incorporating everyone’s ideas, we prepared a variety of games—such as the “Wham!” game, speed games, and “Mega Storm”—which successfully captured the students’ interest, making me feel a great sense of accomplishment. Through this process, I realized the importance of teamwork.
One senior and I were in charge of preparing the “Whack-a-Mole” game. While running the event, I was able to receive advice from the senior regarding campus life and academics. This advice was very helpful in planning my future college life, and it inspired me to make the most of the time I have left at school.
Preparing for the club presentation reminded me of what true teamwork is, and I realized that consideration and compromise must come first. Small acts of consideration and sharing among us served as motivation to foster a spirit of cooperation, and I discovered that I had grown even more by collaborating and sharing my talents. The values of cooperation, sharing, empathy, and active listening that I learned in the Public Relations Club have become a great asset to me.

Volunteering and Giving

Although I had always been interested in volunteering, it was difficult to carve out time for it amidst my busy schedule. Then, at a friend’s suggestion, I began volunteering at a rehabilitation center, and this experience completely transformed my life. I had always thought that giving was a grand and difficult undertaking, but once I actually tried it, I gradually felt more at ease about sharing what I had.
At first, volunteering at the rehabilitation center felt unfamiliar, but I quickly adapted and was able to provide attentive care to those with physical or mental disabilities. Seeing these individuals reminded me anew that, even though we are all human beings and individuals with dignity, people with disabilities or mobility issues face many limitations in their daily lives.
While participating in this volunteer work, I reflected on what I could do to support those in need of rehabilitation, and I shared a sense of pride with the others who had come together with a common purpose. Through this experience, I realized that volunteering doesn’t have to be something grand, and that many people need help. I also learned that the more we share, the more we can positively impact a person’s life and drive social change.
I believe we must continue to spread the spirit of sharing, refrain from looking down on the socially vulnerable, and actively provide practical support to help them achieve full self-reliance. I also learned that material support is only a temporary solution and can, in the long run, undermine a person’s sense of self-reliance.

Motivation for Application and Career Path

I applied to the Department of Korean Language and Literature because I aspire to become an announcer at a local broadcast station, where I can shed light on the lives and lifestyles of diverse regions and exert a positive social influence. I decided to enroll in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Gyeongsang National University because I want to become an announcer who connects with local residents in my hometown region of Yeongnam, and this is what sparked my interest in media. To me, media is a “link connecting one life to another.”
My preferred form of media is new media, which is a more advanced form than traditional newspapers and broadcasts and aims for two-way communication. This includes online newspapers, blogs, wikis, videos, and social media. After enrolling in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Gyeongsang National University, I plan to double major in Journalism and Information Studies to explore new media in depth.
I find the structure of producing content through new forms of communication—moving beyond traditional media methods—to be very intriguing, and one of my dreams is to compile my personal blog posts into an online publication. While traditional publishing was centered on paper books, e-books have now become mainstream, and many people are making wise use of media.
I intend to make the most of my four years as an undergraduate to build a solid foundation in linguistics as a broadcaster and develop the skills necessary to understand the publishing and media industries.