In this blog post, I will introduce my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of my consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying to the Department of Public Administration and my plans after admission.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
I participated in sports through middle school. I started track and field because I loved running, and it earned me medals. No matter how hungry or exhausted I felt, I was determined to grow as an athlete and become a representative of South Korea. However, that dream did not come easily. Ignoring frequent minor injuries eventually led to a severe injury to my Achilles tendon. While I could manage daily life without issues, my body was no longer capable of running for long periods. The passion I had poured into the sport since first grade was wasted, and I was overcome by a profound sense of defeat—a feeling I had never experienced before. I had no idea what to do. So I just drifted through my days, lost in a daze. But it was my mother who helped me see the light again. She was the only person who fully understood my sense of defeat, and she silently looked after me as I spent my days doing nothing but staring at the ceiling in my room. Watching her back, I felt a desire to become a civil servant so I could support her for the rest of her life. So, from that moment on, I began to study. I began my studies by mindlessly “memorizing” things, much like I used to exercise. Since I hadn’t studied at all and had only focused on sports, I didn’t even know the most basic vocabulary. Nevertheless, I bought English vocabulary books and books of four-character idioms and started memorizing them blindly. As a result, I saw my scores in the language and foreign language sections—which had started in the 30s—gradually improve. I also started memorizing math formulas because I lacked a solid understanding of them. After breakfast and an hour of exercise, I structured my day to focus on the major subjects: studying English in the morning, math in the afternoon, and Korean in the evening. As a result, by my sophomore year, my grades in subjects that had previously been below a 6 gradually rose to the low 3s. After that, I shifted from a memorization-based approach to one focused on understanding question patterns, which eventually raised my grades to the mid-2s, and I am currently studying toward even better results through constant practice.
Extracurricular Activities and Volunteer Experience
From Monday to Friday, I focused diligently on my studies, and on weekends, I made sure to go out and spend time on activities. What I realized while studying was that while sitting down and putting in the effort, along with the perseverance to be patient with myself, are important, I also believed it was necessary to have time to refresh myself through activities outside of studying so I could recharge and refocus. Therefore, thinking, “I should do some physical activity outside,” I joined our school’s social service club, “Eoulrim”—an activity that began with a somewhat self-centered mindset. And I learned a great deal from this volunteer work.
First, I learned “teamwork.” When playing sports, I interacted with seniors and juniors in a somewhat hierarchical relationship. But the volunteer club was nothing like that. Everything was a “request.” “Can you do this?” “Would you mind helping with that?” At first, I wondered why they asked so politely, but later I had an “aha!” moment and realized why. Volunteer work is a voluntary activity that doesn’t generate income—in short, it’s the “non-profit activity” we learn about in social studies class. That’s why the driving force behind the activity and what kept it going was the “relationships between people.” Once I realized this, I began to appreciate the kindness of my seniors and peers, and I gradually shed my former self—who was rigid and focused solely on studying—and started to transform into a warm-hearted person who cares for others.
Then, in my sophomore year, I became the club president and exercised my leadership. I strove to help my peers and underclassmen enjoy the activities and create fond memories, even if it meant sacrificing my own comfort to make others feel at ease.
Secondly, I saw “hope.” What struck me during these activities was how many people were serving from humble positions. CEOs traveling abroad and those in high social standing were all stepping forward to volunteer. Seeing their lives, I realized that I, too, must live a life of giving, no matter my position. Finally, I witnessed ‘miracles.’ I volunteered extensively at a juvenile detention center. It pained me to see peers my age—or even younger—living lives so different from my own, so I made a conscious effort to serve meals with extra kindness and sincerity. As a result, the youths who initially kept their distance and even snapped back at me gradually opened up and came closer; eventually, we became close enough to contact each other freely and even study together. When I received a text asking me to help with their studies, I even felt a strong sense of mission welling up from deep within my heart.
Once I realized that what began as volunteer work could change society and people, my passion for volunteering grew even stronger. I decided that no matter which university I attend or what career I pursue in the future, I want to remain a person who engages in volunteer work. Therefore, for me, volunteering was the most challenging activity, but it was also the one that gave me the most strength and a sense of fulfillment.
Examples of Practicing Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation
For three years, I consistently volunteered for and faithfully carried out the task of sorting trash. The reason I first started sorting trash was because I didn’t want the weakest student in our class to be forced into taking on the duty. I once helped that friend—who was physically frail—carry the trash bin downstairs for recycling, and in that moment, I realized that this was a task I, being in good health, should be doing. So, from then on, even though the recycling duty was originally rotated like other cleaning duties, I spoke to my teacher and told her I wanted to continue handling the recycling duty myself. At first, the teacher was worried and asked me to reconsider, saying, “You don’t even have volunteer hours, so are you sure you’re okay taking on such a difficult task?” But I thought that if doing this helped someone, it wasn’t such a big deal, so I should do it.
And as the three years of waste sorting came to an end, I could feel that both my surroundings and I had begun to change. For one thing, I was able to do it well because I had gotten used to the work. At first, I was confused by the recycling bins, but now I know them all, and I’ve learned how to sort the trash more quickly and thoroughly. Because of this, I started helping my classmates with their recycling and even took it upon myself to clean the trash area alongside the security guard who handles the waste. As a result, the faces of classmates who used to dislike recycling because the trash area was dirty began to brighten. Classmates and underclassmen who had struggled with recycling no longer worried about it, and since there was no need to worry about trash in my class, the moments when classmates thanked me increased. I also noticed that the security guard’s expression began to brighten as well. It was a small act and a small gesture, but seeing how it made things easier for the teachers, my friends, and the school, I realized that it’s important to keep doing even small things consistently.
Motivation for Application and Academic Plans After Admission
Growing up in a poor family while playing sports, I witnessed many things. For instance, I saw friends suffering due to inadequate welfare support. Furthermore, as I began my studies without any assistance, I realized that while there are many things—even the smallest, most trivial supplies—that students studying in poverty need institutionally, and many things that could be done to help them, there are actually very few ways to provide practical assistance. Furthermore, through volunteer work with children, my peers, and the elderly and people with disabilities—even though these were seemingly minor matters that only those directly involved could truly understand—I began to reflect on what the state could actually do to address these issues. That is why I chose to major in Public Administration. I wanted to become a civil servant, help lay the foundation for the nation, serve the country, and work to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
When I first thought about becoming a civil servant, it was because I wanted to provide a comfortable life for my parents, who had raised me in difficult circumstances. However, as I continued my volunteer work and school life, I realized there were many areas that needed to be addressed through institutional frameworks. I came to want to become someone who studies those “systems” themselves, and then, based on that knowledge, works for the government to establish and implement those systems one by one—in other words, someone who engages in “administration.” Therefore, if I am admitted, I intend to first dedicate time to deepening my academic studies. I want to learn about administration from scholars with deep traditions and expertise, while taking time to reflect on this country’s past, present, and future. I also want to examine case studies from abroad, understand how administration functions not only in public enterprises but also in private companies, and consider the respective advantages and disadvantages of each. Based on this foundation of study, I hope to gradually increase the time I spend on practical activities. For example, I want to explore different parts of the country through various club activities and external engagements, and I want to gain hands-on experience and learn what I should actually do through volunteer work in regions of the country I couldn’t visit during high school, as well as overseas. Through this time—both studying and engaging in activities—I want to take the time to figure out what kind of civil service position would be best for me, and to identify the environment that suits my aptitude and aligns with the work I want to do, so that I can make a serious decision about my future. Once I’ve made that decision, I want to become someone who strives toward that goal. That is why I believe that broadening my horizons and studying come first. If I am admitted to university, I intend to be a student who humbly learns and works diligently to lay a solid foundation. I aspire to grow into someone who contributes to making Korea a better and more beautiful place to live, and I want to devote my passion to building a nation where my peers and I can live more comfortably and happily.
