In this blog post, I will focus on the academic efforts and learning experiences I made during high school, meaningful participation in school activities, examples of consideration and cooperation, my motivation for applying to this major, and my career exploration experiences.

Describing Academic Experiences and Reflections

I have experience overcoming my weaknesses by understanding the flow of history courses. I maintained relatively consistent grades in core subjects such as Korean, English, and math, and while I enjoyed studying social studies in general, history was the one subject that felt particularly burdensome.
I found other social studies subjects enjoyable and performed well in them because I could grasp the underlying principles and theories before memorizing the material. In contrast, I lost interest in history because I viewed it as mere rote memorization, and I eventually hit a wall. Since it was a subject that counted toward my overall GPA, I needed to find a solution. Upon carefully reflecting on the root of the problem, I realized that my own tendency to try to memorize things blindly was a major factor.
So, I decided to change my study method and approached the subject by carefully reading the textbook to understand the sequence of events, their context, and their causes. For example, when I connected the differences in housing styles between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods to the living conditions and economic contexts of the time, the information naturally stuck in my memory. I connected the causes in this way: Paleolithic people lived along riverbanks, where winters were cold, so they dug pits to prepare for the winter, whereas Neolithic people lived on plains practicing settled agriculture; as their climate and lifestyle changed, so did their methods of building houses.
By studying in this way—focusing on understanding the flow of events—I was able to organize my knowledge without forcing myself to memorize it; studying became much more enjoyable, and my grades improved. Through this experience, I realized that learning should be based on an understanding of principles, not mere memorization.

Major School Activities and Reflections

Economics Debate Competition — Excellence Award: I have focused on economics-related competitions at school, and among them, I achieved outstanding results in the Economics Debate Competition. My preparation for debate topics didn’t stop at simply gathering materials. After collecting papers, articles, and reports, I analyzed them in detail to fully understand the content and internalize it through my own logic, then practiced expressing these ideas naturally in speech.
I also examined the background of the topic, key issues, and international case studies to strengthen my arguments, and prepared counterarguments in anticipation of my opponent’s expected questions and attacks. I presented my arguments based on objective evidence and sound reasoning, and my deep understanding of the materials proved to be a major strength during the debate.
Continuing My Participation in the Current Economic Affairs Club: I have been interested in current economic affairs since I was young, so I joined a related club in high school. In the club, I debated various topics with friends every week, which allowed me to review and refine my analytical reasoning. Although there was no pressure associated with a competition format, the process of freely exchanging opinions gave me the opportunity to critically re-examine my own perspectives and broadened my horizons through the viewpoints of others.
Through this process, my ability to analyze economic phenomena and develop logical arguments grew. By comparing our interpretations and repeatedly refuting and supplementing each other’s ideas, I learned how to fill gaps in my reasoning, which later translated into confidence during debates and presentations.
Panelist for the “Explaining the Economy” program on the school broadcasting club: I participated as a panelist on the school broadcasting club’s “Explaining the Economy” program. I was selected for this role because I frequently read newspapers and had a solid understanding of economics. My responsibility was to select topics from the news each week—ones that were interesting or relevant to the curriculum—and explain them in an accessible manner.
While preparing for the broadcast, I delved deeper into the causes of economic issues and the underlying principles, and I found it deeply rewarding to see my friends develop an interest in economics. This activity helped me improve my explanatory skills and my ability to communicate effectively with a general audience.

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

During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I served as class president and led class meetings, striving to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. When I first began leading the meetings, they were chaotic because everyone was only talking about themselves; serious discussion was difficult, and conflicts sometimes arose.
To improve the meetings, I made it a rule to greet everyone with polite language at the start and emphasized two guidelines: “Express your opinions without attacking others” and “Show a willingness to listen.” Using polite language served as a sign of consideration for one another, and simply adhering to these rules transformed the atmosphere of the meetings.
Once a culture of mutual respect and active listening took root, emotional conflicts decreased, and we were able to reach cooperative conclusions. As class president, fostering this atmosphere was deeply rewarding and made me realize just how crucial mutual respect and active listening are to building relationships.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I chose the field of finance and accounting with the goal of becoming a Korean professional active in the global financial markets. From a young age, I built a foundation of knowledge through newspapers and economics books, and while studying foreign languages and keeping abreast of trends in international financial markets, I nurtured my dream of working on the global stage.
Going beyond mere interest, I participated in various activities—such as economics debate competitions, serving as a panelist for the broadcasting club, and joining an economics and current affairs club—to gain hands-on experience. In particular, through my involvement in the broadcasting club, I honed my knowledge by practicing how to break down complex issues and explain them in simple terms, which gave me confidence and a sense of pride in my understanding of economics.
Moving forward, at Kookmin University’s Department of Finance and Accounting, I intend to actively leverage not only academic knowledge but also practice-oriented programs to grow into a creative finance professional capable of excelling in the global financial market.