In this blog post, I will summarize my academic efforts, campus activities, examples of consideration and collaboration, as well as my motivation for applying and preparation process, based on a sample personal statement for applicants to the Department of Physics at Korea University.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
When I entered my sophomore year of high school, I felt a strong need for a study plan. This was because I felt I had been studying rather carelessly up until my first year. Furthermore, upon entering my second year, I realized that the scope of material had suddenly expanded and there was much more to keep track of, which created significant psychological pressure. If I didn’t remind myself that I had a plan and was making progress, the pressure would cause me mental stress. Therefore, to address both my academic and mental well-being, I began studying with a structured plan. Since I didn’t attend cram schools or hire tutors—I relied solely on my own self-made study plans—I went through a lot of trial and error. However, by referring to various books on planning, I discovered a method that worked for me: setting plans on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis.
At the end of each month, I would go to a café, sit quietly by myself, and spend the entire day mapping out my study plan for the following month’s exams. Because this was so important, my parents didn’t say a word even if I took the day off from studying. I would go to the café and start listing, one by one, the exams coming up that month and the topics I needed to study. For example, in March, there would be the initial semester assessment and the March mock exam. Since I could start studying for the midterms in April, March was a month where I had relatively more time. After figuring that out, I determined the scope of my studies for the month.
In months where I had relatively more time, I would pick one weak subject area and focus on mastering it. Focusing on language, math, and foreign languages, I selected one unit to conquer at a time, then created a weekly plan, and from there, a daily schedule based on that plan. I faithfully followed that plan, and if I couldn’t complete everything, I identified the gaps and scheduled them for the following month. By studying this way, I was able to proceed step by step and study without feeling anxious.
Extracurricular Activities: The Joy and Teamwork Gained from the Rocket Launch Club
When entering high school, everyone prepares for their personal statements through essay writing clubs, school newspapers, or volunteer groups. However, I wanted my club activities to be interesting and enjoyable, and I hoped they would allow me to use a different part of my brain than I did for academics. That’s why I joined the rocket launch club—a club I’d heard about even before entering this high school, and one that was actually one of the main reasons I wanted to attend this school in the first place. It turned out to be much more fun and much more challenging than I’d expected, but it was an activity that allowed me to spend a truly enjoyable and happy time, and I gained a lot from it.
My fondest memory was building and completing the rockets. We designed, built, and tested various types of rockets—those launched by firepower, from water, or using air pressure. Although there were actually more days of failure than success, the anticipation and sense of accomplishment I felt each time we completed one, along with the joy of wondering just how far it would fly this time, were the things that made my heart race even when I was exhausted from studying. That’s why, even on nights when I was swamped with studying and had to pull an all-nighter, I made sure to participate in club activities and never stopped experimenting with new ideas.
And this was only possible because all of our club members shared the same mindset. Our members, who were deeply interested in physics and chemistry and dreamed of becoming engineers in those fields, comforted each other whenever things got tough. It wasn’t just comfort like “You must be tired, cheer up”—instead, we found joy by suggesting fun activities and doing them together. That’s why the joy I gained from this club activity was, above all, the joy of being with friends.
To be honest, before that, I truly believed that studying was something I could do well on my own, and that having friends around would only be a distraction. Perhaps because I was an only child, I was more accustomed to being solitary and wasn’t the type to pay close attention to other people’s feelings or thoughts. However, through club activities—assembling and building rockets together, and seeing my peers support each other through difficult times—I felt like I learned how to live in harmony with others for the first time in my life. I feel that if it weren’t for this activity, I would have remained a fool who thought he was the best and acted arrogantly on his own forever.
Finally, the research methods I explored through club activities, and the fact that what I researched was actually brought to life through my own hands—even if it was just an assembled rocket—the sense of pride I felt when that rocket launched has truly inspired me to aspire to become a scientist and build rockets myself. Until then, my dream had been to enroll in a department with good job prospects and earn a lot of money, but that has changed. I found the dream I truly wanted, and to pursue it, I became a student who studies with enthusiasm, earnestly hoping to be admitted to the Department of Physics at Korea University. I now have a goal in my studies and find joy in them.
Examples of Practicing Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation During School Life
Early in my senior year of high school, when everyone felt they should be studying but I was too distracted to focus, our homeroom teacher, noticing our confusion, gave us a special mission. It was to go on a walking trip over the weekend. At first, we didn’t know what a walking trip entailed, so we agreed simply because we thought it sounded fun, unaware of the great challenge that lay ahead. The journey—walking from our school to an island six hours away, eating a bowl of kalguksu, and returning—was a journey we embarked on after being tempted by our teacher’s promise to buy us kalguksu if we made it there on foot. And as we walked, we realized just how grueling a six-hour walk really is.
It was early spring, but it was chilly, and as we walked, we got hot. Thinking we were just going on a field trip, we packed our bags full of snacks, which only made our steps heavier. To make matters worse, the friends who brought drinks were constantly collapsing from the weight. After three hours, some of us started getting leg cramps. In fact, our teacher was so concerned about our health that she drove over with fellow teachers in a car, allowing the students with cramps to rest in the car for a while. But even with that help, walking for six hours was still quite a challenge. Nevertheless, we all managed to walk the full six hours, were treated to kalguksu by our teacher, and walked all the way back home.
The source of our strength to do this was the fact that we were together. Whenever walking became too hard and I wanted to give up, I would look back and see my friends walking alongside me, and we would comfort each other. As I realized how empowering it was to know I wasn’t alone, I understood what our teacher had been trying to tell us. He wanted to tell us that even though senior year is tough, we have nothing to fear as long as we’re together. That experience taught me just how much strength comes from being together, and that’s why our class has come together to enjoy our senior year.
Motivation for Application and Preparation Process
Right now, all my desktop wallpapers are photos of the universe. From images capturing a comet exploding, to photos of stars being sucked into a black hole, to distant shots of galaxies revealing countless others like our own—I often find myself gathering my thoughts while looking at these images of the universe.
This is because I believe that one day, I will be there. That is precisely why I harbor the big dream of attending the Department of Physics at Korea University, the top university. I want to become a physicist who astonishes the world by learning and mastering my craft alongside the best professors and peers.
That is why I have first and foremost fulfilled my duty as a student by studying diligently. Even if what I’m studying now feels tedious, I believed that if I cultivate the habit of studying now, I’ll be able to maintain that same dedication when I eventually pursue my path to becoming a physicist. So, by meticulously planning and putting those plans into action, I’ve built the resilience to tackle any academic challenge.
Furthermore, if I am admitted to college, I will dedicate myself fully to attending classes diligently and absorbing the material. I also want to participate as much as possible in practical labs and hands-on activities. I want to become someone who doesn’t let theory remain just theory, but instead builds upon it to create practical applications, tries them out in real life, and acquires knowledge more effectively and quickly. That is why I believe college is where the real journey begins, and I feel I must make even better use of my time starting then.
That is why I believe I need to start making an effort now to develop habits that will help me use my time more effectively then. As part of that effort, I write in my diary every day. In my diary, I reflect on my day and write down the things I want to do when I achieve my dreams—ideas that may seem far-fetched, but I’m jotting down as many diverse ideas as possible.
