How did my high school experience influence my choice of law and career path?

In this blog post, I have summarized my academic experiences, school activities, and examples of consideration and cooperation from my high school years, along with my motivation for applying and my career plans.

 

Academic Experiences and Reflections

While taking the “Law and Politics” course in my sophomore year, I was drawn to the idea that law plays a role in maintaining and protecting society. I wanted to connect the concepts I learned in textbooks to the reality outside the classroom, and feeling that class alone was insufficient, I would skim through news and newspaper articles at home after school to see how the laws I had learned were actually applied.
Whenever I encountered new laws or court precedents, I summarized them in my study notes, and I also searched for documentaries and video materials to familiarize myself with the relevant content. I felt a sense of fulfillment when terms or systems I had seen in textbooks appeared in news articles or case studies, as it broadened my understanding, and I was able to confirm how closely the law is connected to our lives.
In particular, wanting to learn more about the contents of our country’s Constitution and fundamental laws, I searched for online resources and deepened my understanding by writing out the main provisions of the Constitution myself. After school, I enrolled in additional law and politics classes to solidify my concepts and solve problems, studying the law systematically.
I used mind maps to organize the material and developed the habit of reviewing what I had learned by clipping related articles before going to bed. This repetitive study method was a great help in understanding legal concepts within the context of daily life, rather than simply memorizing them.
A sudden traffic accident I experienced during my sophomore year sparked my interest in litigation procedures and traffic laws. As a result of the accident, I actively researched how the law is actually used and applied, which led me to recognize that the law—which had previously felt rigid and difficult—is a practical tool that underpins our society.
Through this process, I realized that the law goes beyond being a mere academic discipline to play a role in upholding social justice and protecting individual rights, and I developed a concrete career goal to contribute to the realization of justice as a court clerk.

 

Description of Major Campus Activities and Reflections

Through conversations with a friend from a multicultural family, I began to deeply reflect on the difference between “difference” and “wrongness.” When a multicultural essay contest was held at school, I participated to raise awareness about the need for warm concern and respect for multicultural students.
I felt deeply saddened when that friend told me they had faced discrimination and teasing since childhood, and a related video we watched at school prompted me to reflect more deeply on the issue of inequality in our society. While writing, I examined whether I, too, held any prejudices, and I realized that even a small gesture of care or a kind word can be a great source of comfort.
In my freshman year, I joined the “Food Tour” club, where I learned the joy of communication by naturally mingling with others. When I was exhausted from academic stress, meeting with senior club members gave me tips for school life and helped me expand my social circle; through helping one another, I learned the importance of empathy and understanding.
In my junior year, while struggling with stagnant English grades, I joined the “English Original Text Reading Club” at my homeroom teacher’s recommendation. Through club activities, I consistently reviewed by writing about my thoughts on the books I read, and as my fear of English gradually faded, I began to enjoy speaking and writing.
In particular, while reading Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” I reflected once again on the importance of making long-term choices for the present and future, and I resolved to adopt an attitude of constantly taking on new challenges without being bound by the past.

 

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

For about two years, from my sophomore to junior year, I served as a volunteer in the service club, handling waste separation and cleaning up trash on campus. I volunteered for this task because many students avoided it, but I experienced significant stress in the beginning due to students who did not sort their waste properly.
So, whenever students gathered, I calmly explained the importance of recycling and appealed to them, saying that everyone needed to participate with a sense of responsibility to help clean up the school environment. After repeated requests, their attitudes gradually changed, and I began to see other students voluntarily helping me when I was left working alone.
As my friends recognized my quiet dedication to my duties, I was also able to receive help when I faced difficulties. Through this experience, I learned the power of cooperation, communication, and small acts of service.
Another example is my experience resolving a conflict during the preparations for the second-grade sports day. Opinions clashed while deciding on the choreography and the class T-shirt design, and it was difficult to reach a compromise because some students insisted only on the opinions of their close friends.
Ultimately, I took a step back, asked for other classmates’ opinions, and offered to compromise first. My classmate expressed both apology and gratitude for my concession, and we were able to wrap up the sports festival in a joyful atmosphere by helping one another. As a result, our class achieved excellent results and created cherished memories, and I became even more convinced of the value of compromise and cooperation.

 

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

Through a traffic accident I experienced during my sophomore year and my “Law and Politics” class, I gained a deep understanding of the impact that law has on individual lives and society as a whole. This realization motivated me to study law in greater depth and led me to set a specific career path as a court clerk dedicated to upholding social justice.
At university, I plan to organize a study group combining the study of public administration and law, where I can regularly discuss and analyze case studies with peers who share similar interests. If there are law-related clubs, I intend to participate actively to develop practical skills and broaden my horizons through interaction with diverse people.
Additionally, to manage my time efficiently as a freshman, I plan to break my daily schedule into smaller segments to create a study plan and establish the habit of studying regularly. I believe that by setting a daily study goal and sticking to it consistently, I can steadily prepare for a career as a court official.
I plan to continue reading newspaper articles, as I have done in the past, to cultivate a discerning perspective on social issues. Furthermore, I aim to obtain computer proficiency and language certifications to build practical skills, laying the groundwork to become a prospective civil servant suited for the global era.

 

About the author

Cam Tien

I love things that are gentle and cute. I love dogs, cats, and flowers because they make me happy. I also enjoy eating and traveling to discover new things. Besides that, I like to lie back, take in the scenery, and relax to enjoy life.