In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic experiences and school activities during high school, examples of compassion, sharing, and collaboration, as well as my motivation for applying and my career preparation process.
Writing About My Academic Experiences and Reflections
Why does studying have to be boring? Why does it always feel so tedious? From the very beginning of high school, I often asked myself these questions, and at some point, I realized I had fallen into a rut. As my anxiety grew that if I let this rut continue, my grades for all three years of high school—and my future—would become uncertain, I decided I had to overcome it.
The reason I had lost interest in studying was my habit of simply copying what others did—solving workbook problems and skimming through textbooks without any clear goal. I’m the type of person who only pours my passion into things I find “fun,” but since I was approaching my studies solely out of a sense of duty, I gradually lost interest. So, first, I set a new study goal just for myself.
I wanted to major in performance and film, and I decided that to achieve this, I needed a strategy to improve my grades so I could apply through the early admission process. After identifying my ultimate goal, I pinpointed the subjects where I was struggling and analyzed why my grades were low. My analysis confirmed that my grades were dropping in the subjects I found uninteresting, so I resolved to find a way to make those subjects interesting—even if I had to force myself.
For example, when I examined the reasons behind my poor English grades, I realized that a lack of vocabulary was the main cause. To make memorizing English words more enjoyable, I tried creating sentences using those words and acting out dialogues on my own, as if performing a one-person play. By adding interest and fun to my weak areas in this way, I was gradually able to overcome even the subjects I had previously disliked.
As a result, I was able to overcome my academic stagnation and improve my grades. Above all, the experience of setting my own goals for studying and putting them into practice by incorporating elements of fun had a significant impact on my future attitude toward learning.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
I was part of the directing team in the drama club, where I poured my mind, body, and heart into creating a play. Our school’s drama club is very popular, so just joining wasn’t easy, but I was able to join after stating in my interview, “I want to gain firsthand experience directing in a way that makes the actors’ performances shine, and I want to convey the value of theater culture to my peers.”
During my freshman year, I took on menial tasks, setting up the stage myself, and learned the various processes of theater production—such as directing, producing, and planning—by following senior directors and gaining hands-on experience. I was always the first to step up, put everything else aside to help whenever someone asked, and constantly pondered how I could best bring out the best in the actors’ performances. Thanks to this proactive attitude and the diverse experiences I gained during my freshman year, I was able to present a production in my sophomore year that proudly bore my name.
In my sophomore year, I had the opportunity to oversee a play during the festival as the director. The passion and effort I had shown since my freshman year, along with my dedication to practicing late into the night, left a deep impression on my teachers and upperclassmen, leading to their recommendation. My script was selected, and I was appointed as the director.
As the director, I meticulously reviewed every element of the stage—from actor casting to set design, scenery, and props—striving to remain faithful to the script’s narrative. I rehearsed every day, striving to create a production that was both creative and moving for the audience, and I gave it my all—even sacrificing sleep to balance it with my studies.
Through this process, I learned a great deal about responsibility and leadership. A good play is not the result of one person’s efforts alone. As a leader, I experienced firsthand that a play’s quality is elevated only when the efforts of various team members—including actors, the directing team, and the art team—come together as one. Although the stress was significant, I was able to learn a great deal and build up my skills and experience.
Through directing, I developed the ability to efficiently organize creative ideas, learn how to work with people, cultivate a passion for creation, and put that passion into practice; this experience has inspired me to expand these skills even further.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections
I once produced a promotional video to publicize the school’s traditional charity flea market. The flea market is an annual event where people sell unused items, new goods, handmade crafts, and food, with all proceeds donated to charity. Although participation is voluntary, it had become such a well-established school tradition that spots filled up quickly.
To spread awareness of the event’s purpose, I gathered friends—one with a good camera, another skilled in editing, and a third with a knack for promotion—to plan, film, and edit a promotional video for the flea market. After obtaining filming permission through prior consultation with school officials, we drafted a script and thoroughly prepared the details, including selecting interviewees and crafting interview questions.
Before filming, we checked the shooting routes and meticulously prepared in advance to ensure the video’s visual appeal. Although this activity wasn’t done for money or academic credit, my friends and I poured our passion into it because we believed we could contribute to promoting the school and encouraging donations. Since we all shared the same goal, we were considerate of one another and actively exchanged ideas; whenever differences of opinion arose, we resolved them through discussion to find better solutions.
The finished video was posted on the school’s website and social media, and the response was overwhelming. As the video spread through social media, it reached audiences both on and off campus, and through this, I could see that not only was the school being promoted, but the value of giving was also being shared. In the comments, I saw messages of support expressing the hope that giving would become commonplace, as well as pledges to participate directly; that was when I truly realized the impact of the content we had created.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Through my experience directing the drama club and producing promotional videos for the school, I realized that cultural content has the power to change people’s mindsets and even influence the social climate. I was deeply impressed by how a single well-crafted piece of content can convey value to others and, as it spreads rapidly, spark change. Therefore, I set the goal of becoming “someone who creates the power to drive culture.”
Performing arts, broadcasting, and video are indispensable elements of our lives and serve as important media that enhance the quality of life. Consequently, I believe this field must continuously cultivate professional talent, and the broadcasting and video industries require professionals with expertise in both quantity and quality. To fulfill this role, I intend to responsibly build up my specialized knowledge and develop the ability to apply theory to practical work.
Specifically, I plan to enhance my practical skills by actively applying the theories I learn in my major courses to club activities and on-site video production. Additionally, I plan to pursue self-development and research to understand not only domestic technologies but also advanced technologies and trends from abroad, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each technology and their applicability to our local context.
I will recognize the importance of media culture, remain attuned to trends and technologies, and maintain a mindset of continuous learning. I will cultivate the ability to anticipate and prepare for emerging new media, striving to become a leader who can proactively drive these developments. Through the Department of Performing Arts and Film at Handong Global University, I will apply my major-specific knowledge in practical settings and create innovative content that positively impacts society.
