In this blog post, I’ll present the original personal statement I wrote for my application to the Department of Science Education at Daegu National University of Education, which I’ve refined to be easy to read and flow naturally by focusing on my academic experiences, campus activities, examples of acts of kindness, and my background.

Writing About Academic Experiences and Reflections

Studying Independently and Gaining Insights on My Own I have always studied independently to gain insights on my own, rather than relying on external classes, cram schools, or private tutoring to improve my grades. This is because I believe that learning is meaningful only when I achieve it on my own and make it my own—not when someone else produces the results for me.
Therefore, I made an effort to understand the material based on my school classes, without attending cram schools or receiving private tutoring. During class, I focused intently to ensure I never dozed off, listened carefully to the teacher’s instructions, and took notes on everything important. After class, I reviewed my notes and mastered the material to the point of nearly memorizing it, making it my own.
I believed that consistent concentration was more important than natural talent, and with the mindset of “studying by sitting down and sticking with it,” I worked to develop the habit of maintaining steady focus within a set time frame. My teachers recognized this diligence and perseverance, which allowed me to receive more guidance; thanks to this, I was able to maintain good grades.
I believe that the experience of studying and gaining insights on my own allowed me to fully absorb what I learned and served as the foundation for developing self-directed learning skills.

Major Extracurricular Activities and Reflections

Enhancing My General Knowledge Through Newspaper Clippings Through newspaper clipping activities, I built up knowledge across a wide range of fields. I viewed newspapers—which allow one to grasp various events and trends occurring both domestically and internationally at a glance—as a tool for understanding the world, so I never neglected this activity.
The clipping project involved collecting important or interesting articles from my assigned field over the course of a month, adding my own analysis, and compiling them into a book-like format. As I was particularly interested in the social sciences, I added my personal perspective to the analysis and actively proposed topics for discussion within the club.
We exhibited the completed scrapbooks, and for topics worthy of discussion, we set aside time to exchange opinions and further enrich our general knowledge. Through the process of reading newspapers and thinking independently about social phenomena, I developed self-directed learning skills and gained an open perspective on society, which I felt helped me cultivate the cognitive competencies necessary for a primary school teacher.
Cultivating Expressive Skills and Empathy Through Reading and Discussion I expanded my general knowledge by engaging with books across various fields through reading and discussion activities. Although I originally focused on reading science-related materials, the discussion activities allowed me to read and discuss books on a wide range of topics—including the humanities, sociology, philosophy, culture and the arts, world history, and Korean history—thereby broadening my horizons.
I would explain the science topics I knew to my friends, and for areas I wasn’t familiar with, I’d learn from them, creating a mutually supportive environment. By selecting a book to discuss, honestly expressing my own perspective, and accepting others’ viewpoints, I gained a broader perspective.
In particular, through these discussions, I significantly improved my ability to convey my opinions clearly and without misunderstanding. As someone who aspires to become a teacher, I believe the ability to communicate ideas effectively and to foster empathy and a positive atmosphere tailored to the audience is crucial; I am confident that this preparation will help me develop the professionalism and communication skills necessary for teaching.

Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections

Someone Who Knows How to Help Friends in Need I am the kind of person who cannot simply walk past someone in need, so I have strived to practice consideration, sharing, and cooperation. As class president, I was aware of my classmates’ personal circumstances, and among them was a friend who had been hospitalized due to an unexpected accident.
Coming from a family with limited financial means, this friend felt great anxiety not only about the hospital bills but also about keeping up with schoolwork during the hospitalization. Since this friend had excellent grades and was worried about falling behind in school due to the hospitalization, I decided that the best way to help would be to provide “academic support.”
My classmates and I compiled class notes, exam information, and tips for managing schoolwork, which we shared with our friend in the hospital, helping them continue their studies as if they were still in school. My friend was deeply grateful for our consideration in enabling them to continue their studies, even more so than for any financial assistance.
In the end, my friend’s grades remained stable without a significant drop, and she was able to successfully apply for early admission. Through this experience, I learned that consideration is truly helpful only when it is offered in a way that does not undermine the other person’s self-esteem and allows them to accept it without feeling burdened. I believe that showing consideration as an elementary school teacher is no different.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

Strengths for Teaching Derived from My Upbringing and Environment: A Person with Diverse Knowledge, Empathy, and a Value for Consideration As an elementary school teacher, I believe that a broad general education, empathy, and a considerate attitude toward others are essential. I have accumulated diverse knowledge through reading discussions and newspaper clipping activities, and I have actively engaged in cultural and artistic experiences to develop well-rounded skills in the arts and physical education.
Through club activities and my experience as class president, I demonstrated leadership by fostering cooperation among my peers and practiced responsibility and consideration within the community. Furthermore, I believe my ability to maintain good grades without relying on cram schools or private tutoring was the result of self-directed learning grounded in public education.
Watching my parents, who emphasized the importance of learning, I realized that learning has no end and that knowledge only truly becomes one’s own when it is discovered through self-discovery. This experience with self-directed learning will be of great help in guiding children to discover their own dreams and enjoy learning.
Building on my experience in the humanities, knowledge across various fields, leadership, a sense of responsibility, and self-directed learning, I will further develop my professional knowledge and character at Daegu National University of Education to become a teacher who nurtures children’s dreams.