In this blog post, I will summarize what I learned and how I grew through my academic efforts, school activities, and experiences with volunteering and teamwork during high school.
Improving Concentration Through Art Activities
When I was in high school, I tended to have trouble concentrating during class. While sitting in one place for about an hour, I would only stay focused for the first 20 minutes or so, and after that, my attention would gradually wander. I would pay attention if the subject interested me or if the class was engaging, but otherwise, I tended to tune out completely. However, since I needed to study all subjects equally to get good grades in high school, I had to improve my selective study habits. I made a conscious effort to improve my concentration. First, I worked on becoming someone who could sit in one place for over an hour, working hard on something without feeling bored. To develop this habit, I tried utilizing arts and physical education classes. In particular, I tended to get so absorbed in my work during art class that I lost track of time. As I engaged in activities like crafting, drawing, sketching, and coloring, I found myself exerting a high level of concentration to complete my artwork. So, when sculpting with materials like plaster or clay, I practiced focusing on the task for over an hour without cutting corners. Art classes usually lasted two hours, and sometimes even three, and there were times when I worked continuously throughout the entire session. Even though I wanted to take a break, go to the bathroom, or chat with friends, I resisted those urges and focused solely on finishing the piece. In fact, by maintaining such intense focus, I was able to finish my pieces faster than others, and the quality of my work was far higher than when I would get distracted. As I saw my sculptural details become more refined and the results improve, I realized the importance of concentration. Through repeated art activities, my concentration gradually improved, and I became less easily distracted even in classes outside of art.
A Year at a Special Education School
During my sophomore year of high school, I happened to form a connection with students from a special education school. At the time, our school was hosting an event for Children’s Day, where volunteers from each class ran booths for the children, offering face painting and balloon art. I also took on a volunteer role, handing out balloon creations. Among the children participating in the event were students from the special needs school, and it was lovely to see them wandering around the venue with such curiosity. So, the volunteers discussed going to that special needs school separately to volunteer, and after consulting with our homeroom teacher, we established a regular volunteer program. Every Saturday, the five of us would visit the special needs school to spend time with the preschoolers. Since parents who work on weekends leave their children at the school, the preschool class was always open and had children present. We started by showing the children fun TV programs and played with them by singing along to the songs and doing the dance moves from the shows. When it was mealtime, we let them eat the packed lunches their parents had sent slowly, and if needed, we helped them wash their hands or cleaned the classroom together. Although it felt awkward at first, the preschoolers—despite their physical challenges—had pure hearts and were very approachable; they actively expressed themselves by frequently asking for hugs or requesting that we read them books. As we met often and became familiar with each other’s faces, they eventually recognized us, gave us warm hugs, and greeted us. Through this volunteer work, my own heart also matured. On one occasion, the parents came to visit us personally to express their gratitude for our efforts and threw a party for us. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the difficulties faced by families of children with disabilities, which helped me develop a more mature perspective on society.
Festival promotional materials made from recycled materials
When I was a sophomore in high school, our school held a large festival. Since we collaborated with a nearby high school to organize the event, it was quite a large-scale affair. To spread the word and increase participation, I joined the promotional team and was tasked with creating the festival’s promotional materials. The team was divided into groups responsible for designing online posters, operating promotional booths, decorating the playground and school facilities, and creating decorations for the main gate—and I was in charge of the main gate decorations. During our meetings, we agreed that instead of using overly flashy or expensive materials, we should create pieces that showcased the students’ ideas. So, I proposed using recycled materials such as tin cans, milk cartons, scrap paper, snack bags, and fabric scraps. The idea was positively received at the meeting, and we ended up creating large decorations using these materials. Since the main gate was wide on both sides and had no roof, we decided to build a large arch-shaped gate. We stacked sturdy tin cans to form the pillars and used milk cartons to create the roof. We wrapped blue tape around the washed tin cans and stacked them like bricks, then added colorful snack bags to create a vibrant, eye-catching display. The finished decoration stood out due to its size and color scheme, and because it was made from unique materials, it was highly effective for promoting the festival. It was a rewarding experience to collaborate with others as we brainstormed ideas and created the piece together.
