In this blog post, I will summarize the academic experiences, school activities, and examples of compassion, generosity, and collaboration I gained during high school, and I will explain my motivation for applying to the molecular biology program as well as my future career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I tried various creative learning methods to effectively connect my science inquiry courses to the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). While I felt that understanding, application, and problem-solving skills were crucial for core subjects like English, Korean, and Math, science—especially chemistry—required a different approach due to the vast amount of material and concepts that needed to be memorized. To effectively cover both Chemistry 1 and Chemistry 2, I needed a strategy to manage my time and the volume of material efficiently, and I chose to create study posters as a solution.
The study posters I created were visual aids that summarized key content on large sheets of paper, allowing me to grasp the material at a glance. In chemistry, the areas that required repeated, accurate understanding and memorization were atomic models and structures, the classification of elements, and a structural understanding of chemical equations. In particular, the process of deriving chemical equations and understanding the relationships between reactions could not be mastered by memorizing them just once or twice; therefore, I needed a method that involved repeatedly viewing and visualizing the information so that it would remain in my mind like a photograph.
Rather than relying on text-heavy descriptions, the poster used visual metaphors to present the material as a cohesive system. I likened knowledge to a grapevine, creating a structure consisting of a trunk, branches, and grapes; each cluster of grapes represented a chemical substance, the grapes themselves represented molecules, and the insides of the grapes represented atoms. I wrote the molecular formula on each grape and listed the atomic composition and element names inside, allowing the entire structure to be recognized at a glance. This structure allowed me to intuitively understand the relationships between molecules, atoms, and elements without having to memorize them separately, which significantly improved my learning efficiency.
Writing about major school activities and reflections
During high school, I was active in the science research club, where I developed my investigative skills and experimental abilities. When I first joined, the club focused primarily on research-based learning, but after discussing it with my fellow members, we decided to shift the focus to experiment-based activities. We drafted experimental proposals, allocated the club budget, and personally purchased and prepared the necessary materials and tools.
The most memorable experiments in the club were the luminol reaction and the fingerprint analysis experiments. Both experiments were related to molecular biology, a field I was interested in, and were ones I had always wanted to try, so the processes and results remain vivid in my memory. The luminol experiment was conducted as a group project, while the fingerprint analysis was planned as an individual experiment, allowing us to experience different approaches to preparation and execution.
For the luminol experiment, we first prepared the luminol reagent, the alkaline substance required for the reaction, and hydrogen peroxide. After dividing up the tasks among club members to purchase the materials and complete the preparations, we conducted the experiment using a tiny drop of one of our friends’ blood as a catalyst, taking safety into consideration. When the solution—a mixture of luminol, a basic substance, and hydrogen peroxide—is applied to a bloodstain, an oxidation reaction causes it to fluoresce. We observed and recorded the differences in the fluorescent response by comparing samples that had been washed with water, washed with detergent, and left untreated.
The fingerprint analysis experiment was an individual project that I planned and carried out on my own, made possible by the club’s environment, which allowed for independent practice. Although there are various methods for fingerprint analysis, I chose to make and use my own fingerprint powder. I mixed carbon powder—obtained by sharpening a pencil at home—with cornstarch to create the powder. Then, I pressed my fingerprint and a friend’s fingerprint onto paper, sprinkled the powder over them, and spread it with a brush to reveal the fingerprint patterns.
I prepared the fingerprint powder by mixing about 1.5 times more carbon powder than cornstarch, and once the fine powder clearly revealed the fingerprint patterns, I preserved them by securing them with clear tape. Although this method required a delicate touch, experiencing success firsthand deepened my interest in chemistry experiments and analysis. Through club activities, I learned the basic processes of research, including experiment planning, collaboration, material preparation, safety management, and record-keeping.
Writing about examples of consideration, sharing, and cooperation, along with my reflections
During my freshman year of high school, I participated as a youth staff member in a breast cancer prevention campaign held near my school. Although I was a male student and not personally affected by breast cancer, I naturally developed an interest in the topic because I have many female relatives, and since I hoped to pursue a career in the medical field, I wanted to gain relevant knowledge and participate in volunteer work.
The campaign was held under the name “Pink Ribbon Love Marathon,” and since there were many female volunteers, the male staff members primarily took on physical roles such as setup and transportation. I was primarily responsible for tasks requiring physical strength, such as setting up booths, managing facilities, and carrying supplies. Working together with other male students who participated, I helped set up a large performance stage and booths to ensure the event ran smoothly.
At the booth where I volunteered, free breast cancer consultations were provided, and I assisted by recording the personal information of those seeking advice, distributing informational pamphlets, and helping facilitate the consultations. Through this process, I learned about basic information on breast cancer, lifestyle habits for prevention, and the importance of early screening. I found it rewarding to know that even in a simple support role, I was providing tangible help to participants.
Along the marathon route, I provided water to participants and pinned pink ribbons on campaign participants. Seeing female participants take an interest in their own health and that of those around them, and recognize the importance of prevention, made me realize that even small acts of volunteer work can have a positive impact on society. Through this experience, I learned the value of service and cooperation, and came to believe that social compassion makes our community a warmer place.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My motivation to study molecular biology at Pusan National University—and specifically, molecular oncology—stems from my love for my family. Watching my great-uncle, a relative of mine, undergo long-term cancer treatment sparked questions in me: Why do tumors develop? How are tumor-suppressing mechanisms weakened? And why do limitations in cancer treatment exist? These personal experiences led to my determination to understand tumors at the molecular level.
Rather than pursuing clinical medicine immediately, I intend to build a solid foundation in basic science through molecular biology before conducting research to elucidate the molecular causes of tumorigenesis and the processes by which cancer cells emerge. During my undergraduate studies, I plan to join a molecular oncology laboratory to investigate the roles of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and to gain an in-depth understanding of tumor mutations and the mechanisms underlying cancer cell development.
The specific research topics I am considering are in the fields of preventive technologies, prognostic prediction technologies, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. While the actual development of these technologies will be a task for after graduate school, I will do my best during my undergraduate studies to thoroughly acquire the relevant foundational knowledge and experimental skills to lay a solid foundation for conducting research.
