In this blog post, I will summarize and share my experiences, focusing on my motivation for applying to the pre-Korean medicine program, my academic efforts during high school, school activities, and volunteer experiences.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
Efforts to Improve Upon My Middle School Grades, Which Were Not in the Top Tier Although I generally performed well across the board, my grades in middle school were not in the top tier. However, as I set my sights on the Korean Medicine Preparatory Program, I realized that managing my school grades was crucial, and in particular, raising my grades to the top tier was essential. While building a strong application profile is important, I believed it was necessary to be fully prepared by raising my grades to the top tier so that I wouldn’t feel anxious during the early admission process. Since I chose the science track and had to balance various school activities while also improving my grades, I began preparing for my school grades even before entering high school. In particular, I focused more on review than on previewing material. During class, I took notes on the teacher’s explanations and memorized everything, marking the points the teacher emphasized separately. This is because school exams are designed based on the teacher’s instructional intent. So, I took notes with the mindset of memorizing everything the teacher wrote down and taught. I also adjusted my study style by grade level. In my first and second years, I focused on improving my grades through school exams, and in my third year, I concentrated more intensively on solving mock exam questions. In particular, I practiced solving EBS-linked questions and past exam question books under timed conditions. Furthermore, in my first and second years, for Korean, I focused on identifying the structure of the text to pinpoint key sentences, while for English, I organized and studied vocabulary and etymology. In my third year, while I centered my studies on mock exams, rather than simply solving problems, I compiled an error log to analyze frequently missed questions, reviewed them to avoid repeating mistakes, and memorized the answers. I believe that I was able to set smart plans and stick to them to steadily improve my grades because I had a clear “goal.” Because I had firmly set my sights on entering the pre-med program for Korean medicine, I was able to steady my wavering resolve when I didn’t feel like studying, and my sense of purpose allowed me to focus more deeply.
School Activities
Humanities Field Trip
Among my school activities, the humanities field trip stands out the most in my memory. As part of our school’s humanities education program, we organized field trips where students traveled with teachers to explore humanities-related sites. I participated in these trips as a member of the humanities club. Among the various school programs designed to foster sound character and a sense of community through humanities experiences, the humanities field trips allowed me to directly experience, with my own eyes and ears, the content of the humanities books I had read. In particular, visiting the Taebaek Mountain Range Literature Museum in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, allowed me to experience Cho Jeong-rae’s *Taebaek Mountain Range* firsthand and left a deep impression on me. Additionally, by visiting places associated with various books, I not only experienced the spirit and traditions of the Korean people but also deepened my interest in the humanities and came to understand the value of the humanities in fostering personal growth.
Humanities Writing
As a member of the humanities club, I created a separate humanities writing group within the club to prepare for essay exams and improve my writing skills. In particular, as I was aiming to enter a pre-med program for Korean medicine, I was reading books that embodied the values of Korean medicine, and I wrote numerous drafts to learn how to explain these concepts using humanistic logic. I believed that Korean medicine is intrinsically linked to Eastern philosophy and possesses a humanistic perspective distinct from Western medicine and Western philosophy. Eastern philosophy and Korean medicine have unique characteristics different from their Western counterparts. Through books and lectures, I deeply absorbed how these unique characteristics are applied to and persuade Eastern people, and I wrote about them in the form of a thesis.
In particular, after reading books that provided simple explanations of the *Donguibogam* and works written by Korean medicine practitioners, I wrote my own essay incorporating my personal opinions and reflections. Through this process, I was able to appreciate the value of Korean medicine on a deeper level, and it solidified my dream of truly studying Korean medicine.
Debate Competition
Among the various campus programs, participating in the debate competition also stands out in my memory. I decided to join a regularly held debate competition after seeing a topic that caught my eye. The topic was, “Does traditional Eastern philosophy influence our daily lives?” As I had always been deeply interested in Eastern philosophy and Eastern thought, I confidently entered the competition and achieved excellent results. In particular, I cited Korean medicine as a representative example of Eastern thought during the competition. By explaining the philosophical concepts and medical benefits of Korean medicine—which have taken root among the Korean people—I delivered a standout presentation and gained recognition for my debating skills. Furthermore, I am left with a sense of pride knowing that I was able to share my passion for this field with many people and spread its value through the debate competition.
Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Cooperation
Caring for Children with Physical Disabilities: Discovering the Value of Service I have been consistently participating in volunteer activities with a local service organization. Among various volunteer activities, caring for children with physical disabilities allowed me to realize the value of service through compassion and sharing. While teaching and playing with these children, I also experienced moments of self-reflection, feeling ashamed that I had once considered myself superior to them simply because I was physically able-bodied. These children were not inferior or lacking in thought or values; they were simply a little physically challenged. They only appeared different from others because they were injured in unfortunate accidents or born with disabilities. They thought exactly as we did, and they were capable of studying and participating in society just as much as we are. I was particularly struck when talking with children with disabilities—when they spoke of their dreams and hopes, radiating a positive energy. In fact, I had assumed beforehand that they must feel unhappy because of their disabilities, so I tried to be more considerate and give them more. But what they needed wasn’t more consideration or charity; they needed practical help with their physical challenges so they could demonstrate their value as members of society. They also showed me a positive mindset, doing their best to overcome their disabilities and believing that the value of their efforts would surely come back to them. I was deeply moved by their positive attitude and their efforts to overcome their disabilities, and I actually found myself gaining strength from them. Through this volunteer work, I came to realize that it wasn’t about me being slightly better off and trying to help or be considerate, but rather about sharing my abilities so that they—who face challenges—could fulfill their roles as full members of society.
Motivation for Application and Preparation Process
The Korean Medicine Clinic I’ve Attended Since Childhood I frequently visited a Korean medicine clinic as a child, accompanying my parents. My parents always went to the clinic whenever they were sick or had issues with their ankles or wrists, and they also took me there because I was frail. As a result, I became more familiar with Korean medicine clinics than with other types of hospitals, to the point where I would think of a Korean medicine clinic whenever I felt unwell. Because I experienced the healing effects firsthand, I came to value Korean medicine more deeply. Through my own experiences of receiving acupuncture and taking herbal medicine, as well as studying specialized texts on Korean medicine and its humanistic and philosophical aspects, I was able to gain some insight into the healing significance of Korean medicine. I had a strong feeling that the role of a Korean medicine doctor would suit me well—as someone who carries forward the healing values of Korean medicine and realizes societal values from a Korean medical perspective. Furthermore, I felt that helping people heal their pain as a Korean medicine doctor would be deeply meaningful. That is why I began to dream of becoming a Korean medicine doctor, and with my parents’ support, I have continued my studies and school activities with the goal of entering a pre-med program for Korean medicine.
Personally, I prepared for the pre-med program by reading books that covered both the specialized knowledge of Korean medicine and its humanistic and philosophical values. While nurturing my dream by reading specialized texts on Eastern philosophy and Korean medicine, I balanced my school activities and academic performance while striving to deepen my understanding of Eastern philosophy and the value of Korean medicine. I sought out books and lectures containing specialized knowledge, and by writing and sharing my thoughts with friends, I organized my own perspectives on Eastern philosophy, Eastern thought, and Korean medicine. By examining the differences between Western philosophy and Western medicine on one hand, and Eastern philosophy and Korean medicine on the other, I solidified my dream as I sought answers to the question of why I should study Korean medicine. Some people generally view Korean medicine as illogical. Even my friends tended to trust Western medicine more than Korean medicine when they were sick. I didn’t intend to simply claim that “Korean medicine is unconditionally better.” Instead, I resolved to become someone who could professionally explain and persuasively articulate the value that Korean medicine—rooted in Eastern philosophy—brings to people, the nature of its healing, and how it differs from Western medicine. I hoped to realize this vision in the role of a Korean medicine doctor. With this clear goal in mind, I prepared even more diligently for admission to the pre-med program, and after thorough preparation, I applied. I promise to do my utmost to study at Kyung Hee University’s pre-med program—widely regarded as the best in the field—to become a Korean medicine doctor who can explore the meaning of Eastern philosophy and Korean medicine more deeply and convey this knowledge to others with greater expertise.
