In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic habits, school activities, and volunteer experiences from high school, along with my plans for my college career.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I developed my study habits based on the principle of planning my day in the morning and strictly adhering to that plan. Since my biorhythms tend to fluctuate frequently, setting priorities each morning worked better for me than sticking to a fixed, long-term schedule. So, every morning I determined the amount of study and my goals for the day, and on weekends I reviewed and analyzed my academic progress for the week. Above all, my most important principle was to strictly adhere to any plan I set. I believed that breaking a promise I made to myself in the morning would undermine my self-confidence, so I made a conscious effort to complete my plans to maintain that trust. Although this habit may seem simple, the sense of accomplishment that came from keeping my promises to myself—and the resulting improvement in my grades—taught me firsthand the value of sticking to a plan.
Rather than relying on private tutors or cram schools, I focused on doing well in my regular school classes. Although I was sometimes swayed by others’ suggestions when my grades weren’t improving, I decided it was more important to manage my school grades and prepare for mock exams simultaneously, as I was aiming for early admission. So, I concentrated during class to build a solid foundation, and for topics covered in class that I wanted to explore further, I sought out related lectures or articles by experts to expand my learning on my own. Even when my friends said, “All you need to do is solve CSAT practice problems,” I stuck to my approach of studying more deeply by following my curiosity, and ultimately, my improved grades confirmed that my choice was the right one.
Major School Activities and Reflections
I participated in a school campaign to promote a culture of rational consumption. Observing how trend-driven consumption was becoming increasingly common among my peers—who are very interested in fashion and beauty—I often reflected on the problems of impulsive and reward-driven spending. In particular, as expensive items became trendy, leading to comparisons and conflicts among students, I felt that we needed to improve our consumption culture through education and awareness campaigns rather than coercive sanctions. I actively participated in activities promoting rational consumption centered on the message, “Buy items that enhance your own value,” and attended expert lectures organized by the school, which led me to reflect more deeply on the value of consumption.
My involvement in the acoustic guitar club taught me how to find cultural fulfillment and relieve stress. By learning the basics of the acoustic guitar step by step, playing and practicing together, my skills improved, and I even performed during the school festival. Through playing music, I realized that cultural activities are not merely acts of consumption but important elements that add joy to life. While I had previously sometimes felt that attending performances or visiting art museums was unnecessary, playing an instrument myself allowed me to experience firsthand how culture enhances the quality of life.
In addition, I received an Excellence Award at a school debate competition for my discussion on consumer psychology, and I gained diverse practical experience related to consumer culture by participating in the school bazaar. While preparing for the debate, I organized the theoretical background of consumer psychology, and through my work at the bazaar, I gained a firsthand understanding of the intersection between actual consumer behavior and social values. These experiences solidified my resolve to study consumer culture not merely as an economic activity, but within its cultural and social contexts.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Through my consistent volunteer work teaching at a local children’s center, I learned the true meaning of sharing and compassion. Seeing the children sincerely follow my guidance and treat me with respect, I, in turn, learned a great deal and was deeply moved. At first, I thought I was simply sharing my abilities, but through ongoing volunteer work, I realized that volunteering is not a one-sided act of giving but rather an interaction that positively influences both parties. It was a deeply rewarding experience to witness the process of mutual consideration taking shape as I counseled the children and helped them with their studies.
Once, wanting to express my gratitude to the children, I made and gave them handwritten notes as gifts. Though they weren’t expensive gifts, seeing how happy the children were to receive the notes—which I had made by hand using paper purchased with my own pocket money—gave me a great sense of fulfillment. Watching the children take diligent notes on those cards made me feel the true value of volunteering once again, and I realized that consideration and sharing create a greater positive impact that comes full circle. Going forward, I will continue to volunteer not out of a sense of duty but from the heart, putting the values of consideration and sharing into practice.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I believe that consumption is not merely an act of saving money, but that when money is spent wisely and meaningfully, it leads to a higher quality of life for both individuals and society. I believe that responsible consumption creates a virtuous cycle of economic activity, which in turn shapes culture and contributes to national competitiveness. Based on this belief, I have applied to the Department of Consumer Lifestyle and Cultural Industries at Sungshin Women’s University to study the anthropological and humanistic aspects of consumption and to conduct interdisciplinary research on the cultural industry and consumer phenomena.
At the university, I wish to broadly explore the value of consumption, the formation of lifestyle culture, and its connection to happiness. To this end, I plan to build a solid foundation in basic theory through my studies while gaining practical experience through various extracurricular activities and marketing internships. To develop my capabilities as a researcher, I intend to conduct in-depth research on humans and consumption, apply theory to practice through hands-on experience, and grow into a highly skilled professional. Additionally, on a personal level, I will continue to develop myself as someone who practices sound consumption habits in daily life and knows how to appreciate culture.
