In this blog post, I will summarize my academic experiences and efforts during high school, the school activities I participated in meaningfully, examples of my consideration and cooperation, as well as my motivation for applying to the computer science program and my career plans.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

Ever since middle school, I was deeply immersed in video games. I spent most of my time commuting to and from school and my free time playing games, and I often found myself thinking about games even during class. Because of this lifestyle, my homeroom teacher even called my parents to the school, and at home, I was constantly nagged to cut back on gaming.
However, beyond simply playing games for leisure, I was interested in creating and programming games myself. Since I had taught myself the relevant basics and prepared for certifications, I had a certain level of confidence in my career path. However, my grades were poor, and in my first year of high school, my GPA was around a 5, and my motivation for academics was low.
It wasn’t until my second year that my mindset finally changed. I realized that even to become a programmer, I needed a solid academic foundation, so I began studying. In particular, to catch up on math and science, I opened my textbooks again and, by thoroughly reading a basic math textbook, worked through the areas I had missed one by one.
As I struggled with the heavy workload in math and science, I organized a study group with friends at a similar academic level. Starting in the second half of my sophomore year, we combined solving applied math problems with group discussions, helping each other overcome our weaknesses. Through this approach, my grades gradually improved from a grade 5 to a grade 3, and this academic progress reignited my interest in studying and my determination to prepare for the college entrance exam.

Major Extracurricular Activities and Reflections

Since my freshman year of high school, I’ve been interested in game development and tried to teach myself programming languages like C. I bought textbooks and software to study on my own, but learning alone wasn’t easy. So, I gathered friends with similar goals and started a knowledge-sharing group.
This activity was modeled after a game development course at a computer academy, with the aim of sharing information and improving our skills together at a student level. We started with just five members. Although we couldn’t get official club recognition due to our small size, we established a basic framework for our activities on our own.
We began with 2D game development. We held study sessions to systematically learn C# and utilize the Unity engine, and when necessary, we took advantage of free online courses or jointly enrolled in paid courses. After solidifying our foundations, we studied graphics and created simple artwork ourselves. We also completed a mobile art course to develop our own educational curriculum.
As we promoted our group on campus and recruited new members, underclassmen joined us. With over twenty members, we received official club recognition. Using school funding, we began developing a 3D game using Unity and proceeded with the full-scale development process.
With the goal of creating a 3D RPG game, we developed storyboards and designed step-by-step missions. Team members continuously contributed ideas to refine the characters and graphics, and through iterative development and testing, the game’s quality improved significantly. To adapt the PC game for mobile, we developed a server and implemented a simple chat-based community feature.
Through this experience, I gained practical experience spanning planning, development, and design, and gained the confidence to turn software I created into a service. Club activities were a crucial platform that not only improved my individual skills but also taught me the true value of teamwork and collaboration.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and Reflections

There was an elementary school next to our school, and because there was a major intersection between the two schools with heavy traffic, the safety of young students was a concern. To reduce risks such as abduction, traffic accidents, and getting lost, a “Safe Home Escort” program was established, in which high school students and parents teamed up to help elementary students return home safely.
Since it was a volunteer activity requiring only about 30 minutes to an hour a day, I initially participated with the intention of simply fulfilling my mandatory volunteer hours. However, as I actively participated in the program, I realized just how much the children needed help and that our every action had a significant impact. Watching these innocent children who were still unfamiliar with their way home made me feel as if I were seeing my own childhood, and I felt a sense of responsibility through my collaboration with the other parents involved.
During my volunteer shifts, I carefully monitored the surroundings to ensure the children could return home safely and made every effort to eliminate even the smallest potential hazards. I would head outside as soon as possible after class to check on the children first, often putting my personal plans on hold. By interacting with the same children every day, I came to understand their personalities, and through cooperation with my peers, we were able to establish a smooth system for guiding them home.
Through this activity, I learned not only the rewards of volunteering but also the sense of responsibility that comes with being both a volunteer and a leader. I experienced firsthand how even a small act of help can have a positive impact on others, and I came to deeply appreciate the value of consideration and cooperation.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I applied to the engineering department through the Regional Outstanding Talent Admission Track. I set a goal to study game development professionally and grow as a game developer, and I carefully considered my choice of major to achieve this. During a career guidance class in my senior year of high school, I compared and analyzed computer-related departments at various universities. As a result, I chose Dongguk University because it offers a distinctive curriculum tailored to the field I wish to study.
After enrollment, I am eager to actively participate in club activities above all else. My primary goals are to balance academic research with practical activities, increase my record of external awards, and build strong bonds with teammates to enhance my expertise. Having founded and managed a game development club during high school, I intend to create synergy through knowledge sharing and collaboration in a similar manner at the university.
I hope to achieve meaningful results by participating in external game development competitions, thereby validating my practical skills and building my portfolio. Additionally, as a club leader, I plan to develop my leadership skills by expanding my experience in communicating with members and leading the organization.
Having been selected for the regional talent track through my school’s recommendation, I will strive to live up to these expectations. After graduation, I aspire to become a professional game developer leveraging my creative story design skills, with a focus on releasing game applications primarily on mobile platforms. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to launch a game development platform and a knowledge-sharing platform that I have designed and developed myself, thereby creating an environment where even the general public can easily participate in game development.