In this blog post, I’ll explain how the academic attitude, school activities, and experiences with empathy and collaboration I developed during high school connect to my motivation for majoring in law and my career plans.
Describing My Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I sought to move beyond rote memorization and developed study methods that fostered logical thinking and a deeper understanding. This was because I believed that one of the essential qualities required of a law student is the insight to see through to the essence of things and phenomena. Therefore, rather than spending my time merely attending daily classes and commuting to and from school, I adopted the mind-mapping study method to develop the habit of organizing my daily routine and creating study plans on my own.
Mind maps proved particularly useful when studying social studies. The process of diagramming the causes and effects of events and the structure of theories from various angles—and repeatedly recalling them—enhanced my memory and enabled deeper thinking. Although I initially faced time constraints and went through some trial and error, I developed the habit of jotting down concepts or problems that didn’t immediately come to mind, then moving on to another topic before returning to them later to expand my thinking.
At first, I felt that my thinking was too simplistic to allow for in-depth learning, but I consistently asked myself questions, pondered the examiner’s intent, and repeatedly practiced thinking about why a particular question was posed. When faced with content I didn’t understand, I first grasped the overall flow and context before attempting to connect the pieces and explain them. This systematic approach to learning evolved beyond simply solving problems into the ability to accurately identify events and themes and understand the essence of a problem.
This approach proved invaluable for tackling questions in the Korean language reading section and for solving future essay-based problems. Works I encountered in class, such as ‘The Giver’, prompted me to reflect on the right to freedom and its value, and led me to explore ways to safeguard freedom through democratic means as a student. I am confident that my approach to learning—persistently and deeply exploring any event or topic—will serve as a foundation for my studies in law.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
The field trip to observe the legislative process in the National Assembly’s plenary hall was an experience that left a profound impression on me and provided valuable insights. As I examined the number of bills proposed during the plenary session firsthand, I realized that the volume and complexity of the matters handled by the legislature far exceeded my expectations. I had assumed the plenary hall was simply a place where a small number of people handled legislation, but in reality, it was a venue for far more complex and diverse procedures and discussions.
What I found particularly disheartening during the visit was the lack of diligence shown by some members of the National Assembly. Their failure to pay attention during the bill explanations and their apparent lack of understanding regarding the content of the bills they themselves had proposed struck me as issues that could undermine the trust of the public, who are the voters. Through this experience, I came to value diligence and a sense of responsibility as essential qualities for a member of the National Assembly, and I resolved to cultivate an attitude of doing my very best in the role entrusted to me.
The second activity that left a deep impression on me was my participation in a family court session, where I listened to the stories of juveniles who had committed misdemeanors and took part in the discussion as a member of the panel. Through this process, my perspective shifted: I came to believe that punishment should be administered from the standpoint of rehabilitation and resocialization rather than punishment for its own sake. Of course, the purpose of punishment must clearly be maintained, but I felt that an approach is needed that assigns tasks helpful in preventing recidivism, taking into account the offender’s social background and environment.
Although minor disagreements arose while we were gathering opinions as participants, witnessing how these were amicably resolved to reach the best possible conclusion taught me the true meaning of constructive discussion. I realized that discussion is not merely an exchange of arguments but a process for solving problems, and that an attitude of understanding and reconciling others’ perspectives is what brings about real change. This experience also provided practical lessons for reconciling differences with friends and resolving conflicts within a group.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
While preparing for the class choir competition, conflicts within the class intensified over rehearsal schedules. Some students wanted to practice after school, while others insisted on focusing on practice within the designated time, leading to a stalemate. As the conflict escalated, the president called a halt to rehearsals, and as the class vice president, I found myself reflecting on whether I had simply stood by and watched the situation unfold.
Judging that simply persuading my classmates wouldn’t be enough to resolve the issue, I proposed new rules and systems. First, I suggested that we film our practice sessions and show them to our teacher so they could decide whether additional practice was necessary. Instead of the current approach, where the burden fell solely on the class president, I proposed breaking down responsibilities into smaller roles to ensure everyone participated. We established roles such as choreography and lyric adaptation, costume design, and video production, and set up a process to incorporate our teacher’s feedback.
Once the rules and systems were in place, although time was still limited, we were able to practice in a more organized manner, and the conflicts among my classmates were naturally resolved. From then on, we worked together toward the goal of winning, and ultimately, our class won the Grand Prize at the school choir competition. Through this experience, I learned that in conflict situations, creating structural solutions is more effective than emotional persuasion, and that a system allowing everyone to participate fosters cooperation.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I have consistently taken an interest in social issues and phenomena, and by examining historical and legal issues, I came to deeply reflect on the role of the law. While observing various cases, I witnessed instances where the law failed to function properly or was abused, which sparked my determination to establish a just social order through the law and address injustices. With my analytical and meticulous nature, I have concluded that the study of law is a crucial tool for resolving contemporary social issues.
My ultimate goal is to become a member of the National Assembly who drives positive social change based on legal knowledge. As a legal professional, I want to stand up against those who abuse the law in all corners of society and create policies that improve the lives of citizens by enacting laws that are truly necessary. To this end, I intend to study law in depth and develop the ability to monitor and ensure that the legal system functions properly.
Dongguk University’s Department of Law boasts a time-honored and robust curriculum along with an outstanding faculty; I decided to apply because I believe it is the ideal place for me to study law in depth. Once admitted, I plan to participate in various activities to solidify my academic foundation and develop my skills in legal practice and policy design.
As specific action plans, I intend to actively participate in the youth proportional representation system and civil society movements to gain experience in legislative activities, and I plan to volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who cannot access legal assistance due to financial constraints. Furthermore, I will consistently monitor whether the law is being applied correctly and apply the legal knowledge I have gained in practice by helping the socially vulnerable. I believe that these combined efforts will ultimately contribute to building a fairer and more just society.
