Please write the personal statement with a focus on what you learned from and felt during curricular and/or extracurricular activities (up to three) to which you attached meaning and devoted yourself in high school.(within 1500 characters/200words)
Looking back on my high school journey, I see how meaningful activities shaped my character and taught me lasting lessons.
Among these, my journey of self-learning basketball stands out. On my first day of high school, watching students passionately play the game sparked a desire to try it myself. At first, the ball constantly bounced away, and it seemed elusive to put the ball into the basket. These moments were a bit discouraging, but I kept practicing, and over time, my skills improved. After all, I learned a valuable lesson: persistence and self-discipline lead to growth, proving that even minor improvements, when steadily accumulated, can drive profound change.
Equally meaningful was my participation in the provincial team competing in the national Physics Olympiad. Preparing for the contest put a lot of pressure on me, as I found it hard to keep up with the best students in the province in each training session. Moreover, struggles to understand advanced physics knowledge and solve difficult problems made me frustrated. The process fostered my perseverance and taught me that every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. Though the result fell short of my expectations, I was proud of myself because I had tried my best, and I realized the journey matters more than the outcome.
These experiences shaped my resilience, curiosity, and dedication - qualities I am eager to bring to KAIST, where I hope to continue growing and contributing to a dynamic, innovative community.
Looking back on my high school journey, I see how meaningful activities shaped my character and taught me lasting lessons.
Among these, my journey of self-learning basketball stands out. On my first day of high school, watching students passionately play the game sparked a desire to try it myself. At first, the ball constantly bounced away, and it seemed elusive to put the ball into the basket. These moments were a bit discouraging, but I kept practicing, and over time, my skills improved. After all, I learned a valuable lesson: persistence and self-discipline lead to growth, proving that even minor improvements, when steadily accumulated, can drive profound change.
Equally meaningful was my participation in the provincial team competing in the national Physics Olympiad. Preparing for the contest put a lot of pressure on me, as I found it hard to keep up with the best students in the province in each training session. Moreover, struggles to understand advanced physics knowledge and solve difficult problems made me frustrated. The process fostered my perseverance and taught me that every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. Though the result fell short of my expectations, I was proud of myself because I had tried my best, and I realized the journey matters more than the outcome.
These experiences shaped my resilience, curiosity, and dedication - qualities I am eager to bring to KAIST, where I hope to continue growing and contributing to a dynamic, innovative community.
