In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of compassion, generosity, and collaboration, as well as my motivation for applying and my career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I spent the most time worrying about my career path. While I made it a priority to explore universities near my home and develop a career plan suited to my grades, I struggled to decide exactly which major I wanted to pursue or what I wanted to study. My biggest challenge was the lack of information about majors within the liberal arts track that directly aligned with my interests.
By my senior year, my teachers were very busy, making it difficult to receive sufficient career counseling. So, rather than continuing to struggle on my own, I actively utilized the EBS college admissions counseling service. EBS’s one-on-one online mentoring worked by having me submit a detailed description of my concerns, after which a mentor provided a personalized response—which was a practical help to me.
During the counseling sessions, I shared the contents of my school transcript—including my grades, extracurricular activities, club participation, and awards—and based on that information, the mentor provided a list of suitable majors and universities. After several sessions, the mentor recommended that, given my interests and activities, studying economics would be a good fit and provided specific guidance on how to prepare.
Based on the mentor’s advice, I began attending special lectures on economics, and once I clarified my study direction, my learning efficiency improved significantly. Whereas I had previously focused vaguely on simply raising my grades, I was able to prepare more systematically by creating a study plan tailored to my career path and selecting the necessary lectures and materials. Through this process, I learned that seeking appropriate external help—rather than struggling alone—can be a major driving force.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
I have a strong interest in inventions and creative ideas, so I consistently participated in the school’s invention competition and was exposed to various inventions through broadcasts and on-site visits. Seeing numerous examples of inventions fueled my desire to receive professional training to bring my own ideas to life, which led me to join the school’s Creative Invention Club.
In addition to brainstorming sessions with fellow students, the club provided systematic training through special lectures by guest speakers. In particular, the three-month creativity enhancement course led by the director of the Invention Research Institute was a major turning point for me. Through these lectures, I learned to move beyond simply collecting data and agonizing over ideas to organizing the collected information and systematically developing my concepts.
For example, we practiced concretizing ideas using the W6H1 method (a technique that examines “Who, When, Where, How, and Why”), which proved to be a highly effective approach for me. Through this process, I improved my ability to design products while comprehensively considering the user’s situation.
Finally, after taking a course on drafting patent documents and the electronic filing process, I actually filed a patent application for my idea and successfully obtained a utility model patent. The instructor informed us that students can also file patents and shared examples of ideas being commercialized through partnerships with companies. Based on that advice, I was able to develop practical skills by experiencing the entire process—from idea generation to development, documentation, and filing.
Writing About Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
My experience in the Creative Invention Club allowed me to truly appreciate the value of collaboration and sharing. In the club, where I developed an interest in low-capital startups, we sought out projects that could be realized with limited funds and selected a commercially viable idea through numerous brainstorming sessions and discussions. During this process, I actively applied the creativity-enhancing techniques I had learned in the club.
Ultimately, the product we aimed to commercialize was a “magnetic writing utensil holder that can be attached to a chalkboard.”
Although I had filed a patent application for this product, I faced technical and financial limitations that prevented me from bringing it to market on my own. Therefore, I decided to collaborate with my club members on the commercialization process. Through the network of a guest lecturer, we were introduced to technical experts and a manufacturer, and we proceeded with development together.
Production required the cooperation of the development team and the manufacturer, and we utilized funding from both the school and the club’s budget. This was only possible thanks to the consent and active participation of my club members. After numerous discussions with the engineers and the manufacturer, the product was completed and installed in a classroom, and the proceeds were returned to the school’s budget.
Through this experience, I learned the important lesson that ideas develop further when shared and become a reality through collaboration. I also learned that even when individuals have their own rights, the process of dividing roles and pooling resources for a common goal leads to practical results.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My career reflections during my senior year of high school sparked my interest in studying economics, and I set my sights on enrolling in the Department of Economics. In particular, I believed that studying economics, trade, and finance would be of great help in my plans to launch a small-capital startup and establish a financial venture. I believe that understanding the dynamics of corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while studying economics in college is essential for entrepreneurial success.
I believe that to build the competencies required to become a financial product development specialist—my career goal—I need to take a variety of major courses, including Financial Markets, Money and Banking, Derivatives, Real Estate Economics, International Finance, and Financial Practice. Through these courses, I aim to gain a broad understanding of financial principles and practical applications.
Beyond my academic studies, I plan to actively participate in overseas exchange programs, language training, and finance-related social welfare volunteer activities to develop practical skills and global competencies. Additionally, I intend to prepare for the CPA certification—a professional credential relevant to my major—starting in my junior year and obtain it before graduation to enhance my competitiveness.
In this way, I will make the most of the specialized educational opportunities provided by the university to become a professional who leads the Korean economy, while also striving consistently to become a venture leader as a small-capital entrepreneur.
