In this blog post, I will present a refined draft of a high school personal statement written with the intention of applying to Korea University’s Department of Food and Nutrition, focusing on academic efforts, school activities, examples of consideration, and my motivation for applying.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences During High School
From Home Economics Class to Aspiring Nutritionist: I have always enjoyed cooking, so I found home economics class to be the most enjoyable part of my high school experience. I participated with great focus because the class allowed me to learn not only about cooking but also about other fields I was interested in. Whenever I came across a memorable dish, I would go home to look up the recipe and take notes, or I would save recipes I found in magazines, articles, or on TV. Naturally, I became interested in careers such as chef or nutritionist.
However, since I didn’t know much about the nutritional content of various ingredients or the theoretical knowledge behind cooking, I paid extra attention whenever these topics were covered in home economics class. Then, while browsing the internet, I came across a photo of an unusual school lunch and thought, “I want to eat healthy yet delicious meals at our school too.” As I became interested in the school lunch menu, I began studying the meal options.
I organized the nutritional knowledge I learned in home economics class and the information I gathered online into a notebook, creating my own nutrition journal. By looking at the menus and estimating the nutritional content, calories, and portion sizes of the ingredients to calculate the total calories, I began to dream of becoming a nutritionist. Through this process, I learned that even the smallest details can serve as study material, and that if you take an interest in something, you develop the determination to figure it out yourself rather than letting it pass you by.
I realized that anything can serve as a starting point, that it’s worth taking on a challenge as long as you have the will to do so, and that there is always something to learn from the experience, regardless of the outcome.
School activities I engaged in with purpose during high school
Due to my interest in cooking and dietary habits, physical education class was also important to me. It was a time to maintain my physical fitness and health, and I found it fascinating to learn about nutrition and the human body from a different perspective in physical education theory. During free periods outside of regular classes, many of my friends would stay in the classroom, so I often went running alone or played badminton with friends. Since I had a lot of inactive time, PE class was a precious and meaningful time for me.
In particular, the annual sports festival was a special day, and I participated actively by helping move supplies as a staff member or demonstrating skills as a representative during class. It was a school activity that was just as important to me as the time spent cooking or enjoying food.
Home economics class was particularly enjoyable and meaningful. It was a deeply rewarding experience to put what I learned in class into practice with my friends and see them enjoy the food I made. While cooking schools help improve skills, they have limitations when it comes to gaining specialized knowledge. Therefore, I built a close relationship with the school nutritionist, sought her advice, and received much more practical help.
The process of presenting the food I made to the nutritionist for evaluation and receiving feedback on nutritional balance and areas for improvement was very beneficial. It was especially meaningful because it gave me the opportunity to resolve theoretical questions immediately, and I felt the joy of studying and exploring on my own. Furthermore, as I came to understand the concerns of those who create the school meal menus, it helped reduce my complaints about school lunches and served as an opportunity to reflect on my own attitude toward wasting food.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, Cooperation, and Conflict Management During School Life
The day before a field trip, a friend looked downcast because family circumstances made it impossible for them to prepare a packed lunch. Although I didn’t hear the full details, I decided that helping with the lunch was something I could do, so I persuaded them to just enjoy the trip without worrying. On my way home, I thought about what kind of lunch to pack and put together a balanced menu based on the nutrition knowledge I had studied.
I prepared the ingredients the day before and made whatever I could in advance, then got up early on the day of the field trip to finish the rest. It was exciting and fun to cook while thinking about foods my friend would like. My friend enjoyed the lunch and had a wonderful time on the field trip. As a token of gratitude, my friend even washed the lunchbox container for me.
Through this experience, I learned that a small act of sharing can be a great gift to others, and I resolved to share and show consideration to anyone whenever I can help in the future. I realized that sharing isn’t limited to financial or grand gestures, and I felt a sense of fulfillment and joy myself.
Reasons for Applying to This Program and Why Korea University Should Select Me
I deliberated on which university’s Department of Food and Nutrition to apply to in order to become a competitive professional nutritionist. The Department of Food and Nutrition at Korea University aims to cultivate professionals capable of actively responding to changing times and societal demands, thereby contributing to the improvement of public nutrition quality and the promotion of welfare. I believe this is the place where I can grow into a professional equipped with the expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Additionally, I personally hoped to learn under an educational curriculum designed to foster proactive professionals capable of analyzing the causes of real-world problems and proposing solutions through rigorous experiments and practical training, as well as under the guidance of an outstanding faculty. I believe that studying in this environment will enable me to become a competitive, highly skilled nutritionist.
Since high school, I have consistently analyzed recipes and information I’ve collected, experimented with making them myself, and identified areas for improvement. During my high school years, I built a close relationship with a nutritionist teacher to overcome the limitations of being a high school student, and I am confident in my determination to continue learning more specialized knowledge and in my ability to demonstrate this through action.
I aim to become a competitive and highly skilled nutritionist by applying the knowledge I have gained from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Korea University. If selected, I will demonstrate through my actions the goals and attitude I have described, and I will grow into a nutritionist recognized by schools and companies alike, becoming a source of pride for Korea University.
