In this blog post, I will summarize what I learned and felt based on my academic efforts and school activities during high school, examples of consideration and cooperation, and my career preparation process.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
My interest in ships began with family influences and a chance encounter. Stories from my father and a black yacht I saw on TV during middle school sparked my interest, and upon entering high school, I began seriously considering a career in the shipbuilding and marine engineering field. Through consistent career counseling with my parents, where we discussed job responsibilities and required skills, I set my sights on a career in technical sales by my sophomore year of high school.
Once I set this goal, it became much clearer what I needed to study, and I was able to focus more on my weaker subjects. In particular, with the global market in mind, I determined that I needed proficiency not only in English but also in a second foreign language. I chose Spanish instead of the more commonly selected Chinese or Japanese because I believed it would give me a competitive edge, and the familiarity of using the Latin alphabet would help me connect it to my English studies.
As for specific study methods, when memorizing English vocabulary, I wrote the corresponding Spanish words underneath to compare and memorize them together. This saved time compared to studying each subject separately, and memorizing through comparison helped the words stick better in my memory. By consistently practicing this method, my English grades improved, and while my Spanish speaking skills were still lacking, I developed enough writing ability to compose short diaries.
The most important lesson I learned through this process is that “if you have a goal and work diligently using a method that suits you, you will achieve results.” Above all, it is crucial to clearly identify what you truly want. If I had set a goal that didn’t suit my aptitude simply because of external pressure or the expectations of others, I probably wouldn’t have been able to sustain my efforts. Once I clarified what I wanted for myself, immersion and results naturally followed.
Major Campus Activities and Reflections
Although there was no club on campus that matched my interests, making it difficult to find specific activities, the hands-on lab sessions for each subject were invaluable opportunities for me. In the technology lab, we spent time assembling electrical circuits and creating original projects using them. I built a model boat by carving styrofoam into a boat shape and attaching a motor and propeller. I submitted it after ensuring it was waterproof, verifying the circuit configuration, and confirming that the propeller operated properly.
The part I put the most effort into while building the model boat was the hull design. I sought advice from my father and experimented with cutting the styrofoam into various shapes to find the most suitable form. I also carefully considered a structure that would not capsize even when the motor and propeller were attached, and eventually completed the project. Since it was difficult to test every possibility during class time, I used a prototype I had made in advance. However, I built it exactly as planned, tested its operation in the bathroom, and upon submission, received praise and earned the highest lab grade in the class.
Through this experience, I realized that when I do something I enjoy, I naturally become more proactive and start thinking about how to improve. I also gained a sense of accomplishment from knowing that even without sufficient specialized knowledge, I could succeed by listening to advice and researching materials. Furthermore, gaining a basic understanding of the shipbuilding process through the practical training solidified my confidence in my career path. The practical sessions in the technology course were meaningful activities that led me to explore the shipbuilding and marine engineering field more deeply.
Another meaningful experience was the chemistry lab. The chemistry experiments were interesting because they involved handling chemicals that are rarely encountered in daily life, but at the same time, I sometimes experienced a sore throat or unpleasant odors. Through this, I gained a firsthand understanding of how chemical products are still widely used in the industrial sector and how interest in environmental issues is growing globally.
This experience led me to realize that expertise in chemistry or biology might be necessary even in the shipbuilding and marine engineering field, further solidifying my career idea of becoming a “technical sales representative with a background in chemistry.” From then on, I participated more actively in practical training and came to deeply appreciate the importance of developing practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
My class consisted entirely of female students, and tasks involving physical labor or the use of tools were generally not very popular. Since I enjoyed working with tools and making things, I naturally and voluntarily took on the role of assisting the teacher with lessons or preparing materials. For example, I would cut wood to the appropriate size with a saw to distribute as experimental materials, or help cut a lock when it was lost and the door couldn’t be opened, thereby resolving the issue.
Because of these actions, I was known as the “jack-of-all-trades” in my class. I was simply doing what I enjoyed, but my friends and teachers saw it as an act of consideration and sharing. My actions weren’t something I consciously planned to help others; they came naturally. I was happy to learn that they had a positive impact on those around me.
The lesson I learned from this experience is that consideration and sharing do not stem solely from grand resolutions but can naturally emerge in everyday life. I also found it regrettable that society often frames acts of helping others as nothing more than heroic deeds. I felt that a society where small acts of kindness are exchanged routinely is more desirable, and I intend to continue practicing small acts of consideration in my daily life rather than engaging in burdensome volunteer work.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
While in high school, I decided to pursue a career in technical sales within the shipbuilding and marine industry and have been preparing accordingly. This career choice was the result of a combination of conversations with my father, hands-on experience, and my own personal interests. Through technical training, I gained an understanding of ship structure and the manufacturing process, and through chemistry labs, I gained a practical understanding of the chemical knowledge and environmental issues required in industrial settings. All of these experiences were instrumental in solidifying my goal of becoming a “technical sales professional who communicates with clients based on technical understanding.”
As part of my career preparation, I also worked on developing my language skills. While striving to improve my English scores, I chose Spanish as a second foreign language to enhance my competitiveness. My method of memorizing vocabulary by writing the Spanish translation below the English word to compare them increased my learning efficiency, and as a result, I reached a level where I could write short diaries in Spanish. I expect these language skills to be a great asset when conducting technical sales on the international stage in the future.
Reading and personal habits also influenced my career preparation. The historical novel “Jeong Do-jeon” taught me the attitude of reflecting on myself and finding the root cause to solve problems, rather than blaming external factors. When faced with obstacles, I developed a mindset focused on analyzing causes and seeking improvements rather than giving up—an essential attitude for technical sales work, where problem-solving is crucial. Additionally, after reading “Spare Moments Change Your Life” and putting its time management techniques into practice, my learning efficiency improved, and I was able to maintain my concentration through a regular daily routine.
My future plans are to build a solid foundation of specialized knowledge during my undergraduate studies and develop practical skills through internships and projects. At the same time, I aim to further deepen my language skills and foundational chemistry and technical competencies so that I can serve as a bridge connecting customers and technology. My experiences in high school provided me with a clear direction on how to study and prepare, and I intend to follow that path with diligence.
