In this blog post, I’ll present a summary of a personal statement submitted to the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Dankook University, preserving the original text as much as possible while refining the grammar to make it easy to read and natural. The summary focuses on academic efforts, campus activities, and volunteer experience.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
My grades were so starkly divided—I scored well in subjects I enjoyed and poorly in those I didn’t—that the difference was immediately apparent. Even if I tried to strategically tailor my early admission application, covering my extremely low grades in certain subjects would have required exceptionally high scores in others, which was simply unfeasible. Therefore, I believed that maintaining a more balanced set of grades would actually be a more strategic approach to early admission. Consequently, I increased the time I spent studying my relatively weaker science subjects while working with my teachers to establish a strategic study plan. I was weak in math and social studies; after analyzing my performance with my teachers, we concluded that I couldn’t solve problems accurately because I had focused solely on understanding the material rather than memorizing the necessary facts. So, I concentrated on memorizing the foundational knowledge required for these subjects. Unlike Math and Social Studies, my scores in Korean and English were generally strong. Since I had a keen linguistic aptitude, I’ve always taken an interest in and demonstrated a talent for learning not only Korean but also other languages. Therefore, I invested just enough study time to maintain that aptitude, but rather than studying solely for my school grades, I read a variety of humanities books and books on languages to improve my reading comprehension and understanding. By strategically planning my studies to balance my grades, the disparity in my scores gradually narrowed. As this gap closed, my chances of applying through early admission increased, and even my teacher—who had been skeptical at first—began to actively support my early admission plans. I had assumed my grades wouldn’t change, but once I began approaching my studies systematically to achieve my goals—and even found my own way to take interest in subjects I didn’t enjoy—I saw a transformation. Through this experience, I realized that nothing is impossible and that the concept of “impossible” often stems from laziness. This realization became my core value, and I set a life goal to take on any challenge with the belief that nothing is impossible.
Key Extracurricular Activities
Chinese Culture Club Activities: I became interested in China after my favorite idol began actively promoting in the country. Watching my favorite idol appear on Chinese TV shows naturally sparked my interest in the Chinese language, and as I learned Chinese, I also became interested in Chinese culture. I joined the Chinese Culture Club to gain more information. Through my involvement in the Chinese Culture Club, I was able to study Chinese on my own, watch Chinese TV shows, and expand both the quantity and breadth of my knowledge about Chinese culture. My initial motivation to watch Chinese TV shows—so I could see my favorite idol more often—sparked my interest in Chinese culture and served as the starting point for learning the language and reflecting on the value of Chinese culture. Furthermore, through my activities in the Chinese Culture Club, I worked hard to share the value of Chinese culture with many friends at festivals and various events. My involvement in the club opened my eyes to the boundless value of Chinese culture, leading me to decide to major in Chinese Language and Literature. I hope to use Korea as a base from which to explore and discuss the value of Chinese culture. Even now, I actively study Chinese culture by discussing and sharing it with my younger peers.
After contributing articles on Chinese culture to the school newspaper, I gained a deep understanding of the subject and became proficient enough in Chinese to read and write on my own. As a result, a friend who was a reporter for the school newspaper asked me to write a series of articles on Chinese culture. The request was to write a year-long series of articles introducing Chinese culture. I wanted to share Chinese culture with a wider audience, and since it was an opportunity to see my own abilities in action, I accepted the offer for the year-long series. Since it was a year-long series, I didn’t just write whatever came to mind; instead, I devised a strategic plan, predetermined the topics for each installment, and conducted thorough research. At first, I thought it would be fun, but as I wrote the articles, I began to feel a heavier sense of responsibility. It was through my first article that I realized my writing could either spark an interest in Chinese culture in some readers or, conversely, lead others to develop negative perceptions. Friends who read my first article had a variety of reactions, such as, “Is China really like this?” “That’s fascinating,” and “It’s a little different from what I imagined.” And since those reactions weren’t all positive, it struck me that the articles I wrote could potentially change a person’s perception of China. So, feeling a slightly heavier sense of pressure and responsibility regarding the year-long series, I conducted more thorough research, analyzed a large volume of data, and wrote articles that took various perspectives into account. While writing these articles, I was able to learn more about Chinese culture myself, and by interpreting Chinese texts for information analysis, I was also able to further improve my Chinese language skills.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation (Volunteer Work)
While volunteering to support children from multicultural families, I have consistently engaged in volunteer work caring for these children. Among the various volunteer opportunities, caring for children from multicultural families was the one where I could truly give my all using my own abilities, which is why I have been particularly proactive in this work. While spending time with children from multicultural families after school—studying and playing together—I focused less on the act of volunteering itself and more on conveying my sincerity and sharing empathy with them. Although these children were sometimes teased for their slightly different, foreign-looking appearances, they were much more resilient than I had imagined; in fact, they often displayed a mature side as they overcame such stares. I actually learned a great deal from them in this regard. Watching these children face their struggles and strive to overcome them made me reflect on my own tendency to give up easily and seek quick fixes to achieve my goals. As I observed and learned from their maturity, I did my best to be of help to them. Since this was the volunteer work I had chosen, I made sure not to let the difficulties show, no matter how hard or exhausting it was, and I cherished the time spent empathizing and communicating with them. In particular, since my interest in K-pop idols had a lot in common with the interests of the children from multicultural families, I was able to talk with them more and build a sense of connection. I feel that, through spending time with them, I was able to cultivate not only a spirit of service but also a deeper sense of sharing and consideration for one another. It was an experience that made me realize that a spirit of sharing and consideration isn’t something grand—it’s realized when we express our care for one another. If I had approached it solely with the mindset of “volunteering,” it would have felt like a burden. However, by reaching out to the children with the intention of sharing my sincerity—and by helping them open up and communicate with me—I believe I was able to truly understand the spirit of sharing and caring. Through this volunteer experience, I gained a profound insight and came to understand—and act upon—the fact that the true values of life are not found far away, but are always right here, close at hand.
