In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts, school activities, experiences with empathy and collaboration, and career preparation during my time in high school.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I didn’t consider myself a particularly bright student. Many of my friends in the science track could solve math and science problems quickly, and I often felt a pang of envy when I heard them talk about solving numerous problems in a single day. I wanted to solve as many problems as everyone else, but that approach didn’t suit my personality; trying to keep up forced me to rush through problems without truly understanding them. So, rather than competing with others in the same way, I chose a different approach that worked for me. I decided to study by giving my all to understand even just one problem a day thoroughly.
In the language section, I felt particularly weak in grammar and poetry. Grammar seemed complicated, and poetry didn’t come easily to me. So, even when solving a single problem, I didn’t stop at just getting the answer right; instead, I calmly wrote down the explanation and solution process in my notebook until I fully understood the problem. I would deliberately select challenging questions, transcribe the sentences into my notebook, and ponder them while noting details such as why a word was omitted rather than abbreviated, or which etymology was relevant. As I repeated this process, my gaps in basic concepts became apparent, and I developed the habit of thoroughly understanding and memorizing those concepts.
I approached my math studies in the same way. I would select a difficult problem, write down the necessary formulas next to it, and if there were parts I didn’t understand, I would review the entire chapter to fill in the gaps. Instead of quickly solving a large number of problems, I focused on building a solid foundation by deeply understanding each problem. Through this process, I came to understand, one by one, why certain formulas hold true and how the conditions of a problem affect the result.
As a result, although the number of problems I solved each day may have been fewer than that of my peers, I was able to steadily build up my foundational concepts, and my grades gradually improved. I felt a great sense of pride in finding a method that suited me rather than blindly following famous study methods recommended by others, and I gained the confidence that, no matter what I study in the future, I can consistently do it my own way.
Major School Activities and Reflections
As soon as I entered high school, I joined the science club. This was because, during the orientation festival before enrollment, I visited the club fair and was deeply impressed by the experiments demonstrated by the upperclassmen and the captivating way they explained them. I joined the club with the hope of becoming like those upperclassmen who conducted experiments themselves and explained the results to others in an engaging way.
In the club, I learned that it’s possible to conduct many fascinating experiments using even the simplest materials and methods. The process of applying the principles I learned in school to obtain actual results required repeated practice and perseverance. Since experiments aren’t something that end after just one or two attempts—but rather activities that require continuous effort until results are obtained—they were a great help in building my patience.
I was particularly fascinated by experiments related to genetics. The thrill I felt when predicting the traits of the next generation by cross-breeding plants and then actually growing them to verify the results is something I’ll never forget. I found it deeply intriguing that not only plants but also humans are influenced by genetics, and that’s when my dream of pursuing genetic engineering began to take shape.
During my club activities, I made many mistakes, both big and small. I had to revise experiment plans after ordering too many or too few supplies, and during festival preparations, I had to pull all-nighters to get things back on track. At first, I was flustered and struggled because of these mistakes, but through those experiences, I realized the importance of planning. I discovered that while I was not good at handling things on the fly, I excelled at making plans and executing them step by step.
After that, I made it a habit to plan ahead to avoid mistakes, and as a result, I was able to gradually reduce errors and lead the club activities smoothly. Thanks to my consistent dedication to my responsibilities, I was elected club president, and the sense of accomplishment I gained from continuously improving my weaknesses became a great source of motivation for me.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Having studied piano for many years as a child, I took on the role of accompanist for the choir competition for two years during high school. While serving as the accompanist, I would go to the music room every lunch break to practice by reading the sheet music, sometimes practicing until my hands were calloused. Although the skills I had learned as a child sometimes proved insufficient as time went on, I consistently invested time to make up for those shortcomings.
The choir competition was a venue for collaboration where many people worked together to create a single performance. While everyone’s voices must harmonize to create a truly moving performance, in reality, the show often goes on even if some participants only give a half-hearted effort. Since I’m the type who can’t settle for “half-hearted,” I practiced and prepared to the best of my ability, even when no one was watching. At first, I felt a bit discouraged, but the deep sense of fulfillment that came after the performance was something only those who had truly put in the effort could experience.
The joy I felt when I experienced the final result—a blend of my efforts as an accompanist and my friends’ contributions—was immense. Through that experience, I learned the sweet sense of accomplishment that only participants can gain, and since then, I have participated more actively in every activity, continually reaffirming the value of diligence.
Efforts and Preparation Related to My Motivation for Applying and Career Plans
Through repeated experiments in the science club, I became fascinated by the experiments themselves and discovered my aptitude in the process. I gained confidence from conducting experiments with perseverance and diligence, and I became convinced that I could take responsibility for any experiment and see it through to a successful conclusion. Naturally, I began to consider pursuing a career as a researcher based on my experimental experience, and my particular interest in genetics led me to choose a career path in genetic engineering.
The thrill I felt when predicting the traits of the next generation in plant breeding experiments and then verifying the results by growing the plants myself solidified my resolve to pursue this career path. Genetics is deeply involved in the characteristics and health of living organisms, and understanding it has a significant impact on people’s lives and society; for these reasons, studying this field holds great meaning for me.
I believe genetic engineering is closely linked to issues in public health, food security, the environment, and energy. I aim to become an expert who can propose meaningful solutions to the challenges facing society by steadily building up my knowledge in these areas. Although I will encounter many experiments and numerous failures during my time in college, I will strive to the very end to produce meaningful results as a researcher, drawing on the perseverance and diligence I have cultivated thus far.
