In this blog post, I will naturally discuss my academic efforts and school activities during high school, as well as my experiences with consideration and cooperation, leading up to my career plans focused on environmental issues.
High School Experience
Academic Efforts
The hardest part of studying was when I felt rushed. There was so much to study, exams were approaching, and whenever I faced a mountain of material I had put off day after day, my hands would shake. Or, no matter how hard I studied, I always felt I fell short, which led me to be deeply disappointed in myself. I used to regret the time I’d wasted in middle school, thinking I should have studied more instead of playing. But at some point, I decided to stop regretting the past. I realized that no matter how much I’d studied up to that point, what truly mattered was how I spent this very moment. So, starting in my second year of high school, I told myself, “Instead of wasting time on regrets, I’ll study. I’ll take it one step at a time, calmly and steadily.” The reason I thought this way was thanks to the childhood diary of the literary giant Tolstoy, which I happened to read. In that diary, Tolstoy wrote that he, too, had felt frustrated because he couldn’t carry out everything he planned each day, and he made a resolution to do just one thing a day, as he was always rushing around. Reading that diary, I resolved to do the same. So, after making a plan, I tackled it one step at a time. Whenever I studied a subject or worked on a problem, I focused intently. I started calmly, one step at a time, and stayed focused. When studying math, I didn’t worry about other subjects, and when studying Korean, I didn’t worry about other subjects. I didn’t envy other students’ progress; instead, I took the steps I needed to take right then. Studying this way made me feel at ease. This was because I no longer had to study as if I were being chased every day. And as I focused on solving each problem one by one, I was able to absorb much more. Through this experience, I learned that maintaining composure is the most important thing no matter what I’m studying, and that I should start with one thing at a time. I realized that my biggest competitor is none other than myself.
Joining the Walking Club
Since I’d been on the chubby side since I was little, I’d always considered that to be a complex of mine. But once I entered high school, I had even less time to exercise, so I joined the “Walking Club” to force myself to make time for it. As the name suggests, this club involved walking around the school grounds, taking photos, and appreciating the surrounding scenery. There were only two rules we had to follow when our club went for a walk: act freely but return to the starting point by the end time, and do not speak. By following these two rules, I was able to participate very freely within the group. For the first time in my life, I realized just how beautiful various parts of Seoul are. I also came to realize how enjoyable it is to reflect while walking. Through club activities, I was able to fully enjoy three hours every weekend—something I could never have managed on my own. Another realization I had while participating in the walking club was that preserving a city requires a tremendous amount of effort. I began to notice things I hadn’t seen before while attending school: the city maintenance workers—the men and women—going about their duties. I hadn’t really noticed them when I was just walking around or rushing about on the bus. But as I walked and observed my surroundings, I realized that so many people are working hard to make our city beautiful. There are those who prune and trim the trees, those who wrap them in protective covers to shield them from the cold, and those who pick up trash and sweep the streets every day for the sake of the environment. Seeing them made me realize that the environment isn’t just preserved on its own. That’s when I decided to join in on environmental beautification efforts that students could participate in. It feels good to be in a place with a nice environment. And that alone is healing. I wanted others to experience that feeling too. So I started picking up trash while taking walks. Carrying a bag and a pair of tongs, I picked up trash wherever I went. This activity eventually became something my friends joined in on, and it became a signature feature of our club.
Donations Through Recycling
The most fun activity I was in charge of at school was using recycled materials for donations. I planned this activity because, when I was class president, there was an event where classes went on a field trip together. I loved my friends, and our class got along much better than other classes, so I thought that since we were going on a field trip anyway, I wanted to do something even more special. So, after looking into it, I thought, “What if we each brought clothes or items from home to donate?” I thought, “What if we made the field trip about collecting clothes and items from home and delivering them to places in need?” And that activity was successfully carried out. We selected good-quality items and delivered them to orphanages and nursing homes. I still can’t forget the sense of fulfillment I felt back then.
Examples of Practicing Consideration and Cooperation
The thing I worked hardest on for my class and my classmates was keeping our surroundings tidy. In my first year, I served as vice-class president, and my campaign slogan at the time was “Let’s make a clean classroom.” Since I’m the type of person who always keeps my promises, I wanted to honor the commitment I’d made to myself, so I always cleaned up the area around me. Before I knew it, it had become a habit. Even in my second year, I couldn’t stand seeing trash lying around. So, during every break, I’d go around looking for messy spots to sweep and wipe down. Whether my friends were watching or not, I just felt that it was my responsibility to do it. So, watering the plants that were always by the window was also my job. I watered them so they wouldn’t dry out, placed them in sunny spots, and took care of the flowers, so the flowers in our classroom were always fresh. I also found great joy in cleaning the little details, like wiping the dust off the blackboard, mopping under the teacher’s desk, and cleaning the top of the teacher’s podium. That area was a common space, so it wasn’t always well-maintained, and that always made me feel sorry. In fact, other students might have thought I was just wasting my time. However, I cleaned, swept, and wiped everything down, thinking that if doing so could make the people using that space feel even a little happier, it would be worth it. Through this, I realized that even if no one notices, doing something for someone else is a joy in and of itself. Watching things get neatly organized by my own hands brought me a sense of peace, and even though I was working alone, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Furthermore, seeing my friends feel at ease and my teachers enjoy their classes because of my efforts made me feel proud. I was happy when people noticed my efforts, but even when they didn’t, I took pride in my work and voluntarily dedicated myself to cleaning and organizing the classroom.
Academic Studies and Career Path After Entering University
They say there has never been a time when environmental changes were as critical as they are today. The Earth, which has been slowly evolving over thousands of years, is being destroyed and ruined by humans. I have come to realize this, and I feel a great sense of responsibility. If some people work for the sake of others and others work for the sake of the world, I wanted to become someone who works for the sake of nature—someone who carries this sense of responsibility and works to save the environment and preserve life. That is why I decided to apply to the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. My academic plan after entering university is divided into research and experimentation. Once I enter university, I want to read many books to become a person with diverse perspectives.
Just because I am a science student does not mean I want to know only experiments or formulas; I want to firmly build my own thoughts and critical thinking skills through inquiry. Therefore, I will read extensively and think deeply, and by joining relevant clubs or taking courses, I will become a student who cultivates my own general knowledge. Another key focus is experimentation. Based on what I learn, I want to study how to solve environmental problems in better ways. Based on this study, I aim to become someone with practical experimental skills who develops my ideas through various extracurricular activities. I will engage in hands-on learning through various competitions and interactions with others. My future goal is to become an “environmental expert.” I believe that to become such an expert, I must study the environment, biology, and chemistry in a well-rounded manner. Therefore, I want to become someone who protects and cares for the environment, which is deteriorating day by day. While others may work in the spotlight, I want to work behind the scenes, correcting wrongs one by one. I aspire to be someone who strives to clean up polluted rivers, improve air quality, and restore the health of trees and mountains. Ultimately, I dream of becoming an expert who can create campaigns that resonate not only in Korea but globally, and help establish laws to protect the environment.
