In this blog post, I will share my motivation for applying to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the preparation process, drawing on my academic efforts, school activities, and experiences with empathy and collaboration during high school.

Academic Experience and Reflections

I have loved science since middle school, and upon entering high school, that interest extended particularly to chemistry. As the level of the curriculum increased and I began to feel limited by my grades, I started to think about how I could improve my understanding and raise my grades. At first, I found it difficult to understand chemical formulas when they were presented as mere strings of letters, so I tried studying by drawing diagrams. However, I eventually realized that this method was time-consuming and inefficient.
After exploring other methods, I concluded that building a solid foundation was crucial. Believing that even complex chemical equations or lab problems could be solved step-by-step if the concepts and theories were clear, I changed my study method to repeatedly reading the concepts, ensuring I understood them accurately, and then memorizing them. While studying past exam questions might be helpful for entrance exams, I judged that learning focused on basic concepts was more necessary for long-term understanding, so I studied by selecting good problems and reviewing them through problem-solving.
As a result of consistently applying this study method, my grades improved, and I began studying other subjects in the same way. By re-examining areas I thought I knew well, I realized that my foundation was weaker than I had imagined. Through this, I learned that the most fundamental and basic elements are important not only in academics but also in daily life, and I resolved to stay true to the basics in everything I do.

Write about major school activities and reflections

I felt that spending so much time sitting down every day was weakening my physical strength and lowering my immunity, so I joined the school badminton club. Unlike the casual games I used to play with friends, the club’s level was much higher. At first, I repeated drills like running and hitting the shuttlecock 100 times to build my basic stamina. As my skills gradually improved, I began participating in various activities, such as practice matches and representing my class as a player in the school sports festival.
The most memorable moment was when the entire club participated in a small local youth badminton tournament. Honestly, I hadn’t even dreamed of winning a prize; my goal was just to make it through the preliminaries. However, our teamwork clicked unexpectedly well, and we easily advanced to the main round. Even during the long matches, my stamina held up so I didn’t get tired, and above all, I was able to achieve good results because I respected and trusted the friends who played alongside me.
Through club activities, I realized that building a solid foundation of physical fitness makes it easier to maintain good posture while sitting for long periods of study, reduces fatigue, and ultimately improves learning efficiency. I also reaffirmed that fundamentals are crucial in badminton, academics, and interpersonal relationships, and learned the lesson that cooperation and mutual respect lead to positive outcomes. I feel that, no matter what I do in the future, I must continue to build a strong foundation and manage my physical fitness.

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

My experience of upholding basic courtesy and trust toward my teammates during club activities allowed me to directly appreciate the value of cooperation. When we participated in a tournament together, we were able to achieve better results than expected because we respected each other’s strengths and weaknesses, showed consideration for one another, and divided our roles accordingly. If we hadn’t respected our teammates or believed in their abilities, we likely wouldn’t have even made it past the preliminaries.
Another experience involving cooperation and conflict management arose while resolving a family conflict regarding my career path. My parents wanted me to choose a major that would be advantageous for employment and offer stability, while I had a clear vision of the field I wanted to pursue, so there was initial conflict. At that time, I decided to prepare calmly and have a discussion rather than arguing emotionally.
Rather than simply stating my position, I gathered valid reasons for why I wanted to choose the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. I researched the curriculum, post-graduation career paths, and the number of potential employers and industries, compiled this information into objective data, and explained it to my parents step by step. As a result, my parents listened to my arguments, and I learned how to communicate logically without being swayed by emotions.
Through this process, I learned that calmly communicating with evidence rather than letting emotions take precedence is far more effective in resolving conflicts, and I realized once again the importance of considering the other person’s perspective.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation and Career Plans

My decision to major in Pharmaceutical Sciences was rooted in my consistent interest and curiosity in chemistry. While studying chemistry, I became convinced that building a solid foundation in basic concepts would be more beneficial in the long run, and that conviction led me to choose this major.
In preparation for my career decision and to resolve conflicts with my parents, I personally researched and compiled data on the department’s curriculum, post-graduation career paths, and the number of potential job fields and companies. By presenting objective evidence rather than relying on mere emotional arguments, my parents came to understand my choice, and this process served as preparation for effectively communicating my career path.
Academically, I have built a foundation for my major by repeatedly studying basic concepts and reviewing through problem-solving, while also cultivating habits to improve learning efficiency through physical fitness management. Moving forward, I plan to continue steadily building the fundamental knowledge required for my major and to keep researching the information necessary for my career path to ensure I remain practically prepared.
Ultimately, I believe that choosing a field I genuinely want to study is more meaningful than pursuing short-term convenience. Therefore, I intend to continue mastering the fundamentals and, through logical communication and thorough preparation, take one step at a time toward my career goals.