In this blog post, I’ll explore the reasons I chose the Department of Translation and Interpretation, the journey that led me to aspire to become a humanities translator, the learning experiences I’ve gained in preparation, and my future career plans.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I made a conscious effort to prioritize broadening my knowledge of the humanities and general education, and I read extensively. While serving on the school library committee, I spent my free time seeking out and reading books on history, philosophy, and other humanities subjects. Through social studies and essay-writing classes, I developed an interest in various social phenomena and historical contexts. The process of researching relevant materials and organizing my thoughts while preparing for assignments and discussions greatly helped expand my critical thinking skills.
When studying history, I would first learn the basic facts from textbooks and then strive to uncover the hidden stories and contexts behind them through reading. For example, regarding modern and contemporary Korean history, ‘A Distant Country, a Neighboring Country: The Korean Edition’ helped me gain a more vivid understanding of the background of events and people’s lives, while ‘Greek and Roman Mythology’ aided my study of world history by offering insights into the foundations of European culture and ways of thinking. While textbooks are strong in providing chronological sequences and factual summaries, reading helped me develop the ability to discern the connections between events and interpret their cultural significance.
When studying economics, I frequently referred to ‘Mankiw’s Economics’ to supplement the limited variety of examples and graphs available in textbooks. I made an effort to understand concepts such as the law of supply and demand, the relationship between complementary and substitute goods, and the Gini coefficient not only in theory but also by connecting them to real-world examples. As a result, I was able to build a foundation of economic knowledge sufficient to explain these concepts to others. This background knowledge was also extremely helpful for essay exams, which require problem-solving skills and logical thinking.
I felt that understanding the structure of persuasion was crucial for developing my essay-writing skills, so I learned how to construct arguments and present evidence through books like ‘The Psychology of Persuasion’. While this book did not teach writing techniques per se, it helped me understand how to persuade readers and made me more careful in developing logical arguments and presenting evidence. Overall, my study method—which combined various academic subjects with reading—had a major impact on moving beyond simple memorization to analyzing situations and forming my own opinions.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
During high school, I spent a significant amount of time participating in the library club. I maintained the habit of reading during every break, lunch, and self-study period—so much so that my friends would jokingly say, “You’re going to die from reading!” This went beyond a simple hobby; it became the foundation for cultivating my attitude toward learning and my problem-solving skills. Since I believed that the comprehension and ability to grasp the intent of questions required for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) could not be achieved through rote memorization alone, I focused on expanding my critical thinking skills and background knowledge through reading.
My involvement in the library club not only gave me the opportunity to read a lot but also significantly broadened the scope of my reading. While checking out and organizing books at the library desk, I was exposed to books across various fields, and I naturally began reading science books, study guides, and novels—genres I wouldn’t normally have encountered. As a result, my areas of interest broadened as I encountered novels and science books, including the complete series of Bernard Werber’s “The Ants,” “The Tree,” and “The Brain.”
The most meaningful experience in the library club was being able to help other students as a “reading coach.”
When underclassmen saw the books I was reading and asked for recommendations, I would select and introduce books suited to their specific goals; when they sought advice on study methods or general scientific knowledge, I would recommend relevant books and provide reading guidance. It started as a casual suggestion, but as word spread, I gradually took on the role of proposing books tailored to diverse needs and collaborating with them to define their reading objectives.
The reason I value reading is not simply to improve my grades. From the perspective that every choice is a series of problem-solving steps, I believe that the ability to remain composed in various situations, devise strategies, and find solutions through foresight is cultivated through reading. Therefore, I believe that the wisdom gained through reading continues to help not only with academics but also with the choices and judgments we make in life.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
My participation in the school magic club was an experience that taught me the values of consideration and cooperation firsthand. I joined the club after being inspired by a book on magic I happened to read; I was drawn to magic because it can bring joy and comfort to people even through brief “illusions.” In the club, we watched magic demonstration videos together to learn basic techniques such as card tricks, coin tricks, and silk knots, and we focused our practice on card tricks, which are portable and versatile.
After about six months of intensive practice during my freshman year, we decided to put on a one-act performance at a large hospital near our school. We prepared for the performance by gathering about ten friends for meetings and dividing the show into three solo acts, three partner acts, and two group acts. I participated in most of the acts, balancing solo practice with partner practice, and my partner and I met for at least an hour every day to refine our routines and synchronize our timing.
On the day of the performance, I was very nervous, but the way my clubmates covered for each other’s mistakes and offered encouragement gave me great strength. Even when minor mistakes occurred, my partner would naturally carry the scene forward, or we’d laugh off unexpected situations, allowing the performance to conclude successfully. Through this experience, I came to understand the true meaning of cooperation. Specifically, I learned that teamwork involves leveraging each other’s strengths and compensating for weaknesses, and that trust and consideration lead to tangible results when working toward the shared goal of a performance.
Furthermore, this activity went beyond mere performance rehearsals to remind me of the meaning of volunteering—spending time for the benefit of others. The experience of bringing joy to patients and hospital staff, even if only briefly, gave me a sense of fulfillment that went beyond simply mastering a skill and served as an opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility and empathy in interpersonal relationships.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My long-term goal is to become a publishing translator specializing in humanities and general interest texts. Having read books across a wide range of fields, I am particularly drawn to the work of introducing humanities and general interest books to Korean readers. Just as translators in the past were the first to introduce foreign works to Korea, I too wish to play a role in accurately and naturally translating important international works into Korean and delivering them to readers.
To this end, I believe I must acquire specialized knowledge and practical experience in the field of translation and interpretation. Therefore, with the goal of majoring in Translation and Interpretation, I plan to systematically strengthen my English proficiency, and after entering college, I will diligently take relevant courses to develop my skills in English-to-Korean translation. Specifically, in preparation for college admissions, I plan to study for standardized English tests such as the FLEX and work toward obtaining relevant certifications like the Translation Proficiency Test, while also gaining practical experience through part-time work translating humanities texts.
I also believe it is important to build a solid foundation in the humanities to ensure my professional competence; therefore, in addition to majoring in Translation and Interpretation, I intend to pursue a double major in Philosophy or take a wide range of humanities-related courses.
Furthermore, I will strive to understand the social and cultural contexts of language through various interdisciplinary courses, such as Psycholinguistics, English and Society, and English and Anthropology. I also plan to interact with students of diverse nationalities both on and off campus, which will help reduce cultural biases and develop my interpersonal skills.
Ultimately, I aim to grow into a professional who not only possesses strong translation skills but also has the communication and project management abilities necessary to collaborate effectively with publishing editors and planners. Through my academic preparation as an undergraduate, the acquisition of professional certifications, practical part-time work experience, and interactions with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, my goal is to become a trusted professional in the field of publishing translation.
