SAT II Writing ~5 (timed essay - 20 minutes)
Korean Minjok Leadership Academy. I entered this unique highschool in Fall 2002, thinking of it as a challenge, determined to make the best out of the three years of highschool. As it is one of the dream schools of Korea, it was notorious with rumors about how the school does nothing byt inculcate the students with a tremendous amount of knowledge. However, in the past 2 and a half years of highschool, I learned more than I had expected, far much more than just plain knowledge.
It took me less than a month for me to discover the Paradise Lost in KMLA. I found myself thoroughly enjoying everyday, constantly discovering ways to get away from studying and playing with my friends.
I overjoyed myself with playing with and helping others, and neglecting my own grades. That was when I discovered one of my strong points; I was really good at dealing with others and helping them. However, at the same time, I discovered my weak point; being too devoted to others, to an extent that I lost discipline over myself. I started using the free time allotted by going to a study hall, and studying until all my work was done, and then coming back to my room to the warm embrace of my friends. That was when I realized another strength and weakness. I could accomplish a lot more that usual through persistent work, realizing that it was much more effective that cramming. The latter was that I was very easily influenced by the environment around me.
KMLA< being the biggest challenge of my life so far, not in terms of getting in well, but getting out well, had done a very good job helping me discover more and more of myself that I had not known.
