In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of my consideration and cooperation, and my academic and career plans after entering college.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I actively participated in after-school programs. While there is a common perception that the quality of programs and instruction in school-based after-school programs is inferior to that of private tutoring centers, my school worked to dispel this prejudice by extending operating hours and diversifying its offerings. The curriculum included a wealth of content linked to core subjects, and classes were often taught by guest instructors and university student volunteers.
The after-school program I chose was an economics education program, which was led by a team of university student volunteers majoring in economics who were dispatched by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Since economics is a subject that even private academies often struggle to cover in depth—leading students to rely heavily on online lectures—the participation of university student instructors active in the field instilled confidence in me, which is why I actively applied for the program.
The class consisted of discussions using economic newspapers and economic and financial board games. Since different media outlets interpret the same economic phenomena differently, we compared and analyzed three different newspapers during our discussions. The topics were primarily practical in nature, covering factors affecting exchange rate fluctuations, selecting financial products while considering interest rates, and the causes of and countermeasures for economic fluctuations. Through cross-examination-style debates, we practiced refining our logic and embracing diverse perspectives.
Although the classes involving board and card games felt like play, they allowed me to concretely learn the basic concepts of investment and finance. Through the games, I came to understand concepts such as the characteristics of substitute and complementary goods, investment risk management, and opportunity cost by applying them to real-life situations. Unlike rote memorization, these concepts were linked to real-life examples, making them stick in my memory for a long time.
Major Campus Activities and Reflections
The activity I valued most and participated in most actively was the Financial Investment Club. Although the club was a fledgling organization that had been established for less than a year, our membership grew rapidly thanks to the achievements of our upperclassmen in mock investment competitions. Since I had always been interested in finance and investment, I joined to learn more, and as a result, I was able to solidify my career and college plans.
Club activities were broadly divided into three parts: group study, investment practice, and current affairs study. During my freshman year, we primarily built a foundation by reading and discussing the history and theory of finance. We selected books, each of us summarized and presented them, and then discussed any questions we had; through this process, I was able to develop an understanding of and a feel for the economy as a whole.
In addition to our regular studies, we concurrently engaged in in-depth theoretical study to prepare for economics certification exams such as the KDI, TESAT, and Maekyung Test. This preparation went beyond mere exam preparation; it helped me develop the ability to analyze economic phenomena and enhance my logical thinking. The knowledge gained through exam preparation also had a positive impact on improving my academic grades.
Starting in the second semester of my freshman year, I expanded my studies to include stocks, derivatives, and simulated trading. Rather than just learning about financial products through textbooks, I participated in actual simulated trading and used commercially available study guides and textbooks for simulated trading competitions to study each unit. In the club, we divided responsibilities so that each team would study one unit in depth, summarize it in a PowerPoint presentation, and present it to the entire group.
Through presentation preparation and discussions, I frequently verified how theory applied to real-world cases, which brought my learning to life. In particular, to avoid merely memorizing theory, I focused on case-based presentations; by directly analyzing stock investment processes and examples of derivative usage, I was able to tangibly experience the connection between theory and reality.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Studying finance sometimes felt lonely and difficult. Whenever I compared my level to others through club activities, I sometimes felt anxious about my career choices. Whenever that happened, I resolved not to give up easily and, with the help of those around me, worked to improve my weaknesses.
The people who helped me the most were my club friends who studied with me and the alumni who had already graduated. My friends helped me summarize the book’s content and prepare presentation materials, and through their summaries and questions, I was able to fill in the gaps in my understanding. Through the process of preparing, asking questions, and answering them together, we naturally collaborated to compensate for each other’s weaknesses.
In particular, when we selected the book ‘Financial Odyssey’ to prepare for individual presentations, I felt overwhelmed about which parts to focus on for my summary. Thanks to advice from an experienced friend, I was able to complete my summary, and during the discussion session, questions raised from others’ perspectives broadened my understanding. Through interaction with my peers, I was able to resolve issues that would have been difficult to grasp on my own.
In the current affairs study program, the help I received from alumni was especially valuable. The activity involved analyzing investment issues in economic news articles and discussing them; I frequently asked questions of alumni majoring in related fields and even received materials via email. The alumni deepened my learning by providing interpretations from a practical perspective and sharing relevant data, and through that support, I personally experienced the value of collaboration.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My long-term career goal is to work as a foreign exchange manager. Through high school clubs and after-school economics classes, I realized the importance of fields dealing with “volatility”—such as exchange rates, interest rates, and economic fluctuations—and naturally developed an interest in foreign exchange and risk management. Various school activities helped me cultivate the habit of interpreting economic news and phenomena, and through this process, I became convinced that I wanted to pursue a career in this field.
Among the various departments in the College of Business and Economics, I chose the Department of International Trade because I wanted to study not only the domestic economy but also how international trade and commerce influence foreign exchange risk. I determined that learning about international finance and practical trade operations was necessary to develop the ability to manage foreign exchange risks arising from corporate trade transactions. At the university, I plan to study in depth the impact of changes in financial regulations across countries and advancements in information and communication technology on international financial markets.
During my undergraduate studies, I will set my sights on obtaining the Foreign Exchange Manager certification, a professional qualification, and prepare for it consistently. Since this certification provides an advantage when entering the workforce and is viewed favorably by relevant institutions during the hiring process, I aim to pass the first-stage written exam and diligently complete the second-stage practical training during my undergraduate studies, thereby growing into a professional equipped with both practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
Ultimately, I aspire to establish myself as a professional responsible for foreign exchange risk management and the efficient management of foreign exchange assets. To this end, I plan to proceed step by step through my university studies, obtaining certifications, and gaining diverse practical experience.
