In this blog post, I’ll summarize my experiences, focusing on my study habits, school activities, experiences with empathy and collaboration, as well as my motivation for applying and my career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
Whenever I studied, I followed the rule of “reviewing each topic three times.” At first, I set my grade goal as “Grade 1” and was determined to achieve that result no matter what. However, when I didn’t get the grade I expected, I felt intense self-blame and anxiety, which actually increased my stress about studying. After realizing that setting results-oriented goals was holding me back, I shifted my focus to the process itself—this made me feel much more at ease and allowed me to study consistently.
My specific study method was as follows. Whenever I bought a book, I would cover the front cover with a piece of paper and write out my solutions in a notebook before attempting the problems in the workbook. The first round served as a stage to check my speed and existing knowledge: I solved as many problems as I could within the time limit and graded myself immediately. However, rather than simply correcting my mistakes, I analyzed why I got them wrong. I made an effort to identify which question types I frequently struggled with and which aspects of the concepts I was lacking.
The second round focused on organizing my incorrect answers. I carefully worked through the problems I got wrong, filling in any gaps in theory and summarizing key concepts to rebuild my foundational knowledge. During the third round, I solved the problems directly in the workbook as if I were taking the actual exam to develop a sense of real-world test conditions. If I still got a problem wrong, I made a note of it, memorized it, and repeated the process until I fully understood it.
This repetitive study created an actionable routine rather than an abstract plan and helped me overcome my fear of making mistakes. Through these three rounds of review, I became convinced that addressing my weaknesses would ultimately lead to success, and I gained the confidence to calmly solve even unfamiliar problems without panicking. This mindset—prioritizing the process over the outcome—greatly benefited both my study efficiency and my mental stability.
Writing About Major School Activities and Reflections
My first leadership role was as class treasurer. Having become introverted due to my parents’ divorce during middle school, I had almost never taken on a position of responsibility. So when I was asked to serve as treasurer, I was initially very worried and hesitant, but I accepted the role thanks to my friends’ trust and encouragement. I organized the class’s income and expenses and prepared a monthly statement to ensure transparent management of where the money was spent.
Serving as treasurer allowed me to experience firsthand the importance of meticulousness and a sense of responsibility. The process of managing the class’s finances—reducing unnecessary expenses to use the budget efficiently and prioritizing necessary expenditures—proved to be more interesting than I had expected. Through this experience, I gained the confidence that I could contribute to an organization even in a supporting role behind the scenes, and my timid personality began to change little by little.
Building on my experience as treasurer, I went on to hold various positions, such as vice-class president and class president, and eventually ran for school student council president. As school student council president, I was responsible for mediating between teachers and students and incorporating student suggestions into school operations. I also gained a comprehensive understanding of organizational management by planning and executing projects designed to bring about tangible changes, such as improving welfare programs and launching campaigns during exam periods.
The most important lesson I learned while serving as Student Council President was the “weight of my words.” Realizing that a single statement from a leader can affect many people, I learned to make promises carefully and follow through on them. I came to understand that refraining from making promises I couldn’t keep from the start was actually the best way to maintain trust, so I always made an effort to listen carefully before speaking and to make only promises I could keep.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
A prime example of the consideration and cooperation I practiced was the repair of the flower bed in front of the school, which was one of my campaign promises as Student Council President. The flower bed on the hill near our school’s main gate had been severely damaged by a recent storm; soil was eroding, posing a risk of students slipping and getting injured on their way to and from school. Although I had promised to restore the flower bed, there were many practical constraints. The security guard in charge was sick, so we couldn’t begin repairs immediately, and the school budget could only be used for designated expenses.
At first, I considered waiting to see how the situation would play out, but I realized that my classmates’ safety was an issue that could not be postponed any longer. So, every weekend, I went out of my way to find places where I could buy materials at a lower cost, and I reached out in various ways to hire an outside technician. Fortunately, through a connection my father made, I was able to hire a technician at a reasonable rate, and together we searched for even more affordable materials to minimize costs as much as possible.
In the end, we were able to repair the flower bed at a reasonable price, and thanks to the repaired flower bed, my friends can now travel to and from school more safely. Through this experience, I realized the importance of a “can-do attitude.” I gained confidence in the fact that problems won’t be solved unless we take action after recognizing them, and that if we have the will to solve them, we can find practical solutions by seeking help from those around us. Above all, I felt a great sense of fulfillment knowing that even a small act of consideration can provide real safety to many people.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Through my activities in the student council, I developed an interest in connecting people and coordinating diverse opinions, which naturally led me to take an interest in national governance and roles on the international stage. By consistently reading newspapers, I gained exposure to trends in domestic and international politics, diplomacy, and economics, and set a career goal of becoming a professional who can facilitate smooth exchanges between nations. In particular, I wish to contribute to enhancing Korea’s standing by building knowledge in the fields of international relations, foreign policy, and economics.
Although I feel my current English proficiency and specialized knowledge are still lacking, I plan to thoroughly build my major-specific knowledge in college while broadening my understanding of international issues. While studying international relations, I will systematically learn about foreign policy, international politics, and economic structures, and I will consistently collect relevant materials and case studies to develop practical skills. Furthermore, drawing on my student council experience—where I collaborated with diverse individuals and coordinated opinions—I intend to prepare myself to play a role in fostering cooperation and communication on the international stage.
Above all, my greatest strength is a strong sense of responsibility. My experience—starting as a treasurer and eventually serving as student body president, despite my initially timid nature, and seeing each role through to the end—will serve as a foundation for demonstrating the sense of responsibility required in the fields of diplomacy and public service. After building my expertise and honing my skills at your university, I will continue to prepare to become a professional who can contribute to bridging the gap between my country and the international community.
