In this blog post, I will outline my academic plans and career aspirations for college based on my academic experiences, school activities, and examples of giving back and collaboration during high school.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

My most important study principle was “making a plan that fits my situation and sticking to it consistently.”
While this might seem obvious or easy to some, it was a difficult process for me. The first thing I let go of when making a plan was ambition. Even when those around me were aiming for high scores by tackling difficult problems, I recognized that my level required a focus on the basics and decided I needed to go back to the fundamentals.
In my third year of middle school, I had a period where I neglected my schoolwork because I was interested in art, so my foundational skills were quite lacking. So, in high school, I created a weekly study plan focused on filling in those gaps. I established a routine centered on memorization and solving basic problems, and I made a concerted effort to stick to that plan consistently.
Sticking to the plan wasn’t easy. Even on days when I was sick or feeling exhausted, I tried not to stop studying as much as possible, and above all, I learned the importance of setting realistic goals that matched my abilities and circumstances. Through this cycle of planning and execution, I was able to improve my grades through classroom instruction, previewing, reviewing, and self-study alone, without relying on private tutoring.
As time went on, I became more accustomed to studying; whereas I used to solve only 10 practice problems at a time, I now tackle 30. I feel a sense of accomplishment in having truly mastered my study methods, and I will continue to set plans suited to my circumstances and follow through with them consistently.

Description of Major School Activities and Reflections

The activity I found meaningful and participated in consistently was volunteering with elderly people living alone. Growing up in a rural area, I spent time with grandmothers and grandfathers and learned wisdom from them, which naturally led me to want to help the elderly. When I started volunteering, I faced a reality that differed from my expectations, and those experiences taught me a great deal.
In reality, the lives of elderly people living alone were far more difficult than I had heard. For those with limited mobility, living alone placed a significant physical and emotional burden on them. Witnessing this reality, I decided to increase the frequency of my visits from once every two weeks to once a week, committing to help them every week.
The key insight I gained through volunteering was the “beauty of sharing” and its mutual nature. Witnessing the consistent dedication of my fellow volunteers, I truly realized what a great act of kindness it is to share what one has with others. I was also deeply moved by the fact that sharing is not a one-way street. I was profoundly touched when the elderly people we went to help treated us to meals prepared with great care and tried to give us small items they had cherished or the little pocket money they had saved.
Based on that experience, I expanded the scope of my volunteer work. I participated in various forms of volunteer work, including activities for children with special needs at school, building houses in rural areas, and bazaars at senior welfare centers. I wanted to be someone who consistently offers even small acts of help, and this mindset was the catalyst that led me to choose a career path in the Department of Health Management.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

One of the greatest lessons I learned through volunteer work is that “sharing actually gives me strength.” My friends worried that volunteering would leave me exhausted or cut into my study time, but I often found myself gaining even more energy after volunteering. The heartfelt encouragement from the elderly, the sense of solidarity among fellow volunteers, and small gestures like holding someone’s hand were all sources of energy that came back to me.
I made an effort to put those experiences into practice in my daily school life. For example, I consistently performed small acts such as being the first to raise my hand when selecting a class monitor, taking the initiative to empty a full trash can even if I was sitting in the back row, and approaching a friend who looked like they were struggling to offer help. I extended a helping hand even to friends I wasn’t close with, and when urgent matters arose, I took the lead and accepted responsibility.
Of course, at first, some friends misunderstood my actions or accused me of “pretending to be nice.”

However, as time went on, people began to recognize my sincerity, and I even received gratitude and support from them. Through these experiences, I learned that sharing and consideration are ultimately a two-way street, and that acting with sincerity builds relationships and trust.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

Once I enter college, I want to become a person with diverse skills, not just someone who specializes in a single field. Through my volunteer work, I realized that to serve effectively, one needs a broad range of competencies—not just medical knowledge, but also practical skills related to language, food, and daily life. Therefore, while building expertise in the Department of Health Management, I aim to develop a broad skill set by engaging with various academic disciplines.
Specifically, I plan to refine my thinking and mindset through a minor in the humanities, while honing my professional knowledge and practical skills in my major. I believe the humanities will help me develop the ability to understand and empathize with others. I also believe that language skills are essential for communicating with diverse people in the medical field.
Therefore, I have set a goal to learn one foreign language each year starting from my freshman year. Beginning with English, I plan to sequentially learn Chinese, Japanese, German, and other languages to acquire the ability to communicate smoothly with people from various backgrounds. Through these preparations, I aim to grow into a versatile professional equipped with both specialized knowledge and communication skills.
My ultimate goal is to work for an international organization such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and contribute to helping “everyone achieve the highest possible level of health.” To this end, I will build a well-rounded foundation of major-specific knowledge, humanities, and language skills to become a professional who can immediately apply these skills in the field.