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I am a senior in high school living in southern Seoul's Seocho District ― one of the most academically thriving areas in Korea. Next is Gangnam District, where 1,898 "hagwon" (private academies) exist in an area of 39.55 square kilometers, thereby recording the highest number of hagwon institutions in Korea, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Attending a hagwon is not a one-time thing but a lifestyle. And the purpose for attending them is clear: to succeed in academics and get accepted to a dream college. I live in the center of this ambition, yet I am different from my peers. I do not attend any hagwon and do not plan to take the entrance exam. I feel no pressure to do so.
This is because I attend an alternative school that follows an American curriculum and grading system. This fall, I applied to several colleges in the United States. During this process, I realized the differences in the ideal candidate for Korean vs. U.S. colleges.
For my college application, I wrote a main personal essay. Instead of packaging myself as the perfect individual, I found that American colleges search for students who improve and overcome their weaknesses or challenges.
In my application essays, I was honest about my shortcomings in the past, how I faced and overcame them at a particular time of my life and what I discovered through the process. This kind of essay prompt is unimaginable for Korean college applications. American colleges I applied to last year have seen my essay as inspiring and accepted me to their college bounds. I am not bragging that I am an extremely outstanding person or a special and experienced student (I am just an ordinary high schooler like other high schoolers are). But American colleges evaluate students from various perspectives, which is equally important since everyone is different.
What I have experienced as a senior in an American school curriculum has taught me a great lesson: Academics is not the only way to success, but developing my uniqueness is a more meaningful practice. Outside the Korean academic system, I could take a good look at myself, search for my unique characteristics, talents and values and draw my future with a more dynamic and broader perspective. Although I don't have superb grades and I am not at the top of the class rankings, I discovered what I love to do and received encouragement throughout my academic years.
Unfortunately, unlike what I am experiencing as a senior, 70 percent of high school seniors in Korea are suffering from academic stress according to news reports. The main reason was due to "feeling disappointment with and loss of confidence" in oneself. It is unfortunate to hear such responses from my peers. Many Korean seniors are losing the opportunity I have had in the college application process.
Korean universities' admission standard is still based solely on grades and test scores. However, life is not all about academics. Some may blossom academically, while others may excel in a different area. When Korea cultivates a culture where students can design and explore themselves more, I expect more young adults will enjoy freedom. Now is the time. It is time for colleges in Korea to view each student through a different lens that will uplift each student's value and uniqueness.
The writer is a senior at HolGa Christian Academy in Seoul.
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