In this blog post, I will explain how the academic attitude, school activities, and experiences with empathy and collaboration I developed during high school connect to my motivation for majoring in law and my career plans.
Describing Academic Experiences and Reflections
During high school, I sought to move beyond rote memorization and developed a learning method that emphasized logical thinking and deep understanding. This was because I believed that one of the essential qualities required of a law student is the insight to see through to the essence of things and phenomena. Therefore, rather than spending my time merely attending daily classes and commuting to and from school, I adopted the mind-map study method to cultivate the habit of organizing my daily routine and setting study goals on my own.
Mind maps proved particularly useful when studying social studies. The process of diagramming the causes and effects of events and the structure of theories from various angles, and repeatedly recalling them, helped improve my memory and enabled deeper thinking. Although I initially faced time constraints and trial-and-error, I developed the habit of jotting down concepts or problems that didn’t immediately come to mind, moving on to other topics, and then returning to them later to expand my thinking.
At first, I felt that my thinking was too simplistic to engage in in-depth learning, but I consistently asked myself questions, pondered the examiner’s intent, and repeatedly practiced thinking about why a particular question was included. For content I didn’t understand, I first grasped the overall flow and context to connect the pieces and explain them. This systematic approach evolved beyond mere problem-solving into the ability to accurately identify events and themes and understand the essence of a problem.
This approach proved invaluable for tackling questions in the Korean language reading section and for solving future essay-based problems. Works I encountered in class, such as *The Giver*, prompted me to reflect on the right to freedom and its value, and as a student, to explore ways to safeguard freedom through democratic means. I am confident that my learning attitude—persistently and deeply exploring any event or topic—will serve as a foundation for my studies in law.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
The field trip to observe the legislative process in the National Assembly’s plenary hall was an experience that left a profound impression on me and provided valuable insights. As I examined the number of bills proposed during the plenary session, I realized that the volume and complexity of the matters handled by the legislature far exceeded my expectations. I had assumed that the plenary session was simply a place where a small number of people processed legislation, but in reality, it involved far more complex and diverse procedures and discussions.
What I found particularly disheartening on-site was the lack of diligence shown by some members of the National Assembly. Their failure to pay attention during bill explanations and their lack of understanding regarding the content of bills they had proposed struck me as issues that could undermine the trust of the voters. Through this experience, I came to value diligence and a sense of responsibility as essential qualities for a member of the National Assembly, and I resolved to cultivate an attitude of doing my utmost in the role I am entrusted with.
The second activity that left a deep impression on me was my participation in a family court session, where I listened to the stories of juveniles who had committed minor offenses and took part in the discussion as a member of the panel. Through this process, my perspective shifted: I came to believe that punishment should be administered from the standpoint of rehabilitation and resocialization rather than punishment for its own sake. While the purpose of punishment must certainly be maintained, I felt that an approach is needed that assigns tasks helpful for preventing recidivism by taking into account the offender’s social background and environment.
While gathering opinions as a participant, minor disagreements arose, but witnessing how we resolved them amicably and reached the best possible conclusion taught me the true meaning of constructive discussion. I realized that discussion is not merely an exchange of arguments but a process for solving problems, and that an attitude of understanding and coordinating with others’ perspectives is what brings about real change. This experience has also provided practical lessons for coordinating opinions with friends and resolving conflicts within groups.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
While preparing for the class choir competition, conflicts within the class intensified over practice time. Some students wanted to practice after school, while others insisted on focusing on practice within the designated time, leading to a stalemate. As the conflict escalated, the class president called a halt to practice, and as the vice president, I began to reflect on whether I had simply stood by and watched the situation unfold.
Judging that simply persuading my classmates wouldn’t be enough to resolve the issue, I proposed new rules and a system. First, I suggested filming the practice sessions and showing them to our teacher so they could decide whether additional practice was necessary. Instead of the current approach, where the burden fell solely on the class president, I proposed dividing roles to ensure everyone participated. We established a process to assign roles—such as choreography and lyric adaptation, costumes, and video production—and to incorporate the teacher’s feedback.
Once the rules and systems were in place, although time was still limited, we were able to practice systematically, and conflicts among my friends naturally resolved themselves. From then on, we worked together with the goal of winning, and ultimately, our class won the Grand Prize at the school choir competition. Through this experience, I learned that in conflict situations, creating structural solutions is more effective than emotional persuasion, and that a system where everyone can participate fosters cooperation.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I have consistently taken an interest in social issues and phenomena, and by examining historical and legal issues, I have deeply reflected on the role of law. While observing various cases, I witnessed instances where the law failed to function properly or was abused, which sparked my determination to establish a just social order through the law and address injustices. With my analytical and meticulous nature, I have concluded that law is a crucial tool for solving modern social problems.
My ultimate goal is to become a member of the National Assembly who drives positive social change based on legal knowledge. As a legal professional, I want to stand up against those who abuse the law in various sectors of society and create policies that improve the lives of citizens by enacting laws that are truly necessary. To this end, I intend to study law in depth and develop the ability to monitor and ensure that the legal system functions properly.
I applied to the Department of Law at Dongguk University because it offers a traditional and robust curriculum along with an outstanding faculty, which I believe makes it the ideal place for me to study law in depth. After admission, I plan to participate in various activities to solidify my academic foundation and develop my skills in legal practice and policy design.
As concrete steps, I intend to actively participate in the youth proportional representation system and civil society movements to gain legislative experience, and I plan to volunteer for free legal counseling services to assist those who cannot afford legal aid. Furthermore, I will consistently monitor whether the law is being applied correctly and apply the legal knowledge I have gained through practical actions to help the socially vulnerable. I believe that these efforts will ultimately contribute to building a fairer and more just society.
