In this blog post, I will summarize the academic experiences and school activities I accumulated during high school, examples of consideration and cooperation, and my career plans after entering college, and share my reflections on them.
Writing About Academic Experiences and Reflections
I once realized the importance of health while reading a book. In an essay by a famous writer, there was a line that said, “It is only when we are sick that we realize the value of our everyday lives,” and those words really resonated with me while I was suffering from enteritis. Coincidentally, the illness struck during the midterm exam period of my first year, second semester, and I failed the exams. I was constantly vomiting and had diarrhea, so I couldn’t even open a book, and at that moment, I clearly realized two things.
First, to study anything, you must first be healthy; second, the more important the study, the more you need to prepare well in advance. I felt it was risky to decide to study the day before, considering the possibility of getting sick the day before or other unexpected variables. This realization became a turning point that changed my study methods and daily habits.
From my sophomore year onward, I developed the habit of always studying ahead. I used spare moments every day to review, and I set small learning goals before and after class to stay on track. I also made sure not to neglect my health. I tried to maintain my physical condition by eating regular meals and doing light exercise after eating. Instead of burning the midnight oil, I prioritized getting enough sleep and focused as much as possible during class to maximize my efficiency.
To maintain my focus, I created a study schedule to ensure I didn’t waste any spare moments. Having a schedule reduced the time I spent deliberating, allowing me to dive straight into studying even during short breaks; as a result, these small chunks of time added up to make a significant difference. I feel that these habits were not only instrumental in improving my grades but also greatly helped me develop my self-management skills.
Major Extracurricular Activities and Reflections
Ever since I was young, I’ve loved cars so much that I would memorize everything from car specifications to fuel efficiency. Although I had an active personality, I spent my time at home reading car-related books and collecting materials; whenever a great car was released, I would print out information and add it to my collection. My simple wish to own such a car one day gradually grew into a dream: “I want to build better, more impressive cars myself.”
When I heard there was a car club at my high school, I joined without hesitation. Through activities like assembling model cars, participating in exhibitions and competitions, and completing individual missions, I built a solid foundation in design and manufacturing. I honed my skills by working with my clubmates on missions to create new cars and by collaborating on school assignments.
The greatest reward from my club activities was that my dream became firmly established. Since I was always surrounded by cars, pursuing a major related to automobiles felt like a natural choice. Approaching my activities with a sense of responsibility, much like people working in a professional setting, became the driving force that kept me from getting burned out during high school. Even during difficult times, having friends by my side helped me not give up.
Another challenge I faced during club activities was “creativity.” Seeing the ideas proposed by my clubmates made me realize that my own creativity was still lacking. So, to avoid simply replicating existing work, I researched new car designs and technologies by collecting clippings and reading related books. This effort to cultivate creativity became a personal project, and I am still working to develop it further.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
By nature, I’m not one to hesitate; I tend to want to resolve situations, so I can’t just ignore conflicts among friends. That’s why I often stepped in to mediate when there were arguments in my class. Although I’ve been told I’m nosy, I believe it’s important to get along with a wide range of friends and manage those relationships.
Once, a fight broke out during a basketball game, so I used that as an opportunity to organize an interclass basketball tournament to bring the whole class together. As soon as the tournament began, friends who had been at odds quickly started getting along and reconciled, and the atmosphere naturally improved. In another instance, I helped friends who were having a conflict over schoolwork by summarizing the material for them, which reduced misunderstandings and allowed them to work together.
In some situations, I even got physically injured while intervening directly. Once, I got hurt while stepping in to break up a fight between students and had to get dental treatment, but even then, I believed that restoring someone’s relationships was more important. Some might ask, “Why do you have to meddle in other people’s business?” but I believe that the class atmosphere and all its members influence one another.
What I gained from resolving conflicts was more than just problem-solving skills. Every time I led a reconciliation, I built new friendships, and after the conflict was resolved, our relationships grew even stronger. Through this process, I got to know more people and was able to grow by spending time with good people. That is why, even now, when there is a need, I choose to step forward and help build meaningful connections.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My ultimate goal is to “create a car that has never existed in the world.” I cannot consider my dream fulfilled simply by working in the automotive industry. I want to design new vehicles and introduce them to the market—creating creative and innovative cars that elevate Korea’s standing.
The core objectives I aim to achieve by enrolling at the Korea University of Technology and Education are “solid knowledge” and “professional networks.” Since it is not yet clear which stage of automobile production I will be involved in, I believe that acquiring comprehensive foundational knowledge and practical skills is the top priority. Since I may take on various roles across different fields—such as parts supply, assembly, and design—I need a broad understanding and specialized expertise.
I also believe that I can only exercise creativity by constantly embracing new ideas. While I do not consider myself a creative person, I believe I can expand my thinking and develop ideas through interactions with diverse people and project experiences. Therefore, in college, I plan to actively participate not only in major-related courses but also in various clubs and team projects to absorb diverse perspectives and gain practical experience.
My goal is to share ideas and develop collaboration skills through interaction with others, and by the time I graduate, to have the capability to conceive and bring new cars to life. Based on my knowledge, experience, and network of people, I want to make the creation of innovative cars in Korea a reality.
