In this blog post, I’ll summarize my academic efforts, school activities, experiences with empathy and collaboration, and career preparation during my high school years.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I didn’t consider myself a particularly bright student. Many of my friends in the science track could solve math and science problems quickly, and I often felt a pang of envy when I heard they solved numerous problems in a single day. I wanted to solve as many problems as others, but that approach didn’t suit my personality; trying to force myself to keep up only led me to move on without truly understanding the material. So, rather than competing with others in the same way, I chose a different approach that suited me. I decided to study by giving my all to understand even just one problem a day, no matter how small.
In the language section, I felt particularly weak in grammar and poetry. Grammar seemed complicated, and poetry didn’t come easily to me. So, even when solving a single problem, I didn’t stop at just getting the answer right; I calmly wrote down the explanation and solution process in my notebook until I fully understood the problem. I deliberately selected challenging questions, copied the sentences into my notebook, and pondered them while noting down details such as why a word was omitted rather than abbreviated, or which etymological roots were involved. As I repeated this process, my gaps in basic concepts became apparent, and I developed the habit of thoroughly understanding and memorizing those concepts.
I approached my math studies in the same way. I would select a difficult problem, write down the necessary formulas next to it, and if there were parts I didn’t understand, I would review the entire chapter to fill in the gaps. Instead of quickly solving a large number of problems, I focused on building a solid foundation by deeply understanding each one. Through this process, I came to understand, one by one, why certain formulas hold true and how the conditions of a problem affect the result.
As a result, although the number of problems I solved each day may have been fewer than that of my peers, I was able to steadily build up my foundational concepts, and my grades improved gradually. I felt a great sense of pride in finding a method that suited me rather than blindly following famous study methods recommended by others, and I gained the confidence that no matter what I study in the future, I can consistently do it my own way.
Major School Activities and Reflections
As soon as I entered high school, I joined the science club. This was because I had visited the club fair during the orientation festival before enrollment and was deeply impressed by the experiments the upperclassmen demonstrated and the captivating way they explained them. I joined the club with the hope of becoming like those upperclassmen who conducted experiments themselves and explained the results to others in an engaging manner.
In the club, I learned that many fascinating experiments can be conducted using very simple materials and methods. The process of applying the principles learned in school to obtain actual results required repeated practice and perseverance. Since experiments are not something that ends after just one or two attempts—but rather an activity that requires continuous effort until results are obtained—it was a great help in building my patience.
I was particularly fascinated by experiments related to genetics. The thrill I felt when predicting the traits of the next generation by crossbreeding plants and then actually growing them to verify the results is hard to forget. I found it deeply intriguing that not only plants but also humans are influenced by genetics, and from that point on, my dream of pursuing genetic engineering began to take shape.
During my club activities, I made many mistakes, both big and small. I had to revise experiment plans after ordering too many or too few supplies, and during festival preparations, I had to stay up all night to correct our plans. At first, I was flustered and struggled because of these mistakes, but through those experiences, I realized the importance of planning. I discovered that while I was weak at handling things on the fly, I had a strength in making plans and executing them step by step.
After that, I made it a habit to plan ahead to avoid mistakes, and as a result, I was able to gradually reduce errors and lead the club activities smoothly. Thanks to my consistent dedication to my responsibilities, I was elected club president, and the sense of accomplishment I gained from overcoming my shortcomings became a great source of motivation for me.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
Having studied piano for many years as a child, I took on the role of accompanist for the choir competition for two years during high school. While serving as the accompanist, I would go to the music room every lunch break to practice with the sheet music, sometimes practicing until my hands were calloused. Although the skills I had learned as a child sometimes proved insufficient as time went on, I consistently invested time to make up for those shortcomings.
The choir competition was a venue for collaboration where many people worked together to create a single result. True emotion can only be created when everyone’s voices harmonize perfectly, but in reality, the performance often goes ahead even if some participants only give a half-hearted effort. Since I am the type of person who cannot settle for “half-hearted,” I practiced and prepared to the best of my ability, even if no one noticed. At first, I felt a bit disappointed, but the profound emotion that came after the performance ended was something only those who had truly put in the effort could feel.
The joy of experiencing the final result—where my efforts as an accompanist blended with my friends’ participation—was immense. Through that experience, I learned the sweet sense of accomplishment that comes only to those who participate, and since then, I have continued to participate more actively in any activity, constantly reaffirming the value of diligence.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
Through repeated experiments in the science club, I became fascinated by the experiments themselves and discovered my aptitude in the process. I gained confidence from conducting experiments with perseverance and diligence, and I became convinced that I could take responsibility for any experiment and see it through to a successful conclusion. Naturally, I began to consider pursuing a career as a researcher based on my experimental experience, and my particular interest in genetics led me to choose genetic engineering as my career path.
The thrill I felt when predicting the traits of the next generation in plant breeding experiments and then verifying the results by growing the plants myself solidified my resolve to pursue this career path. Genetics is deeply involved in the characteristics and health of living organisms, and understanding it has a significant impact on people’s lives and society; for this reason, studying this field holds great meaning for me.
I believe genetic engineering is closely linked to issues in public health, food security, the environment, and energy. I aim to become an expert who can propose meaningful solutions to the challenges facing society by steadily building up my knowledge in these areas. While I will undoubtedly face numerous experiments and failures during my time at university, I will strive to the very end to produce meaningful results as a researcher, drawing on the perseverance and diligence I have cultivated thus far.
