In this blog post, I will organize and refine the original text of a personal statement submitted to the Department of Fashion Design at Kookmin University into easily readable sections based on the categories of academic achievements, extracurricular activities, examples of consideration, and reasons for applying to the major.
Efforts and Learning Experiences During High School
“To get the rewards you want, study hard!” In high school, I wasn’t very motivated to study, and I didn’t think deeply about why I needed to get good grades. My parents proposed a fairly clear system of rewards to allow me to attend design classes and participate in club activities. The condition was that if I wanted to join the club or take classes, I had to consistently rank within the top three in my class; they promised to cover the costs if I met that condition. Since I needed to improve my grades to pay for club dues and class fees, I naturally set improving my grades as my goal. Since I usually ranked around 15th in my class, the goal of ranking 5th felt out of reach. After agonizing over how to achieve it, I decided to team up with a friend who was a good student. I changed my study habits by copying that friend’s note-taking style and organization methods exactly, mimicking the time and order they spent on each subject during self-study, and asking questions immediately whenever they arose. At first, I was worried that simply imitating someone else might not suit my level, but since my friend had such systematic study habits, there was a lot I could learn from them. In particular, whenever I asked about something I didn’t understand, they never refused to help but instead adopted an attitude of learning together, which was incredibly helpful. As a result, I achieved 5th place in my class in just one semester and, with my parents’ support, was able to pursue studies in design. I felt even happier and more proud because this opportunity was the result of my own hard work.
Meaningful Extracurricular Activities During High School (up to 3)
“Participating in the Design Club at an Autonomous Public High School” I enjoy dressing well and am very interested in wearing clothes that flatter my body type, so I joined and participated in the school’s design club. As an autonomous public high school, our school encouraged creative experiential activities, and the design club received a relatively large budget, allowing for a wide range of activities. Thanks to this, I was able to plan and freely participate in various projects, including banner design, murals, architectural and interior design, visual design, and fashion design. In particular, the project to improve the exterior designs of the school store and the on-campus café left a deep impression on me. After hearing feedback that these spaces, frequently used by students, were monotonous, our club proposed our own exterior designs, and the store operator readily gave his permission. We gathered every day after school to paint and work on the designs, and in about two weeks, we completed the snack bar’s exterior—themed after a garden in full bloom—and the café space, which featured a Mediterranean-style terrace atmosphere. As a result, both students and the operators praised the transformed spaces, and I felt a deep sense of fulfillment seeing how a single design could change the atmosphere and people’s expressions. For our fashion design activities, I worked with friends to prepare for a festival fashion show. We chose a theme and created party outfits; I designed a diagonal-striped dress in red and black and a jacket adorned with studs to create a bold look. I walked the runway as a model myself, and the audience cheered especially when a tall male student appeared wearing the dress. My friends praised my outfits and my courage, and through this experience, I developed a deeper love for my designs and a firm conviction to grow further as a designer.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, Cooperation, and Conflict Management During School Life
“Participating in the School’s 24-Hour Hunger Simulation Event” Our school held a 24-hour hunger simulation event to help regions in Africa suffering from epidemics. Since the event ran from Friday night through Saturday afternoon, participants were recruited, and I volunteered out of my interest in global issues. University student volunteers served as guides at booths covering various topics such as child labor, hunger, war, and refugees. I participated in the booths focused on children and war. At the children’s booth, I learned about the reality of children being forced into labor at a young age through signs and explanations, and I took part in an activity where we decorated a “tree of hope” by writing messages of hope. Watching the tree become lush with diverse messages, I realized that the more people who take an interest, the greater the possibility of solving these problems. At the war booth, I experienced the issue of civilian casualties caused by conflicts around the world through games and discussions. After the game, our group discussed the core issues, highlighted the sacrifices of innocent civilians, and concluded that efforts at the government level in the affected countries are necessary to reduce these casualties—a conclusion we presented to the group. Through the process of collaborating with my group members to gather opinions and prepare the presentation, I felt that my ability to communicate and cooperate toward a common goal had grown significantly.
Motivation for Choosing My Major and Experiences in Career Exploration
“A Fashion Designer Who Expresses Individuality Through Clothing” To me, clothing serves a secondary function beyond simply regulating body temperature and protecting the body: it compensates for physical flaws and accentuates strengths. In my case, although I am tall, my upper body is long and my legs are relatively short, so I tend to look smaller overall. However, by dressing well, I can make my shoulders appear broader and myself appear taller. This is why I came to love clothing, and I aspire to become a designer who helps people better express and love themselves through fashion. My motivation for applying to the Fashion Design Department goes beyond simply creating clothes for myself. By focusing on the third function of clothing—the expression of “individuality”—I want to become a designer who helps reveal the unique personality of the wearer. If people feel the joy of self-expression and take pleasure in the clothes I create, I will find great fulfillment as a designer. This interest and confidence in my career path stemmed from my activities in a high school design club. Through fashion design projects, I created stage costumes and party outfits myself and observed the audience’s reactions, experiencing firsthand the impact clothing has on a person’s identity and emotions. At that time, I realized that my designs could transform people and bring them happiness, which is why I applied to the Department of Fashion Design—to become a designer who spreads happiness to others.
