In this blog post, we will introduce effective examples of self-introduction essays that highlight individual strengths with a focus on background.

 

Values that remain unchanged despite generational changes

In an era where it is not uncommon to read articles about people who become wealthy overnight with a single idea, the values my parents emphasized most were diligence and effort. They taught me that even if one is born with exceptional talent, it is one’s own consistent effort that polishes it and makes it shine.
Thanks to this guidance, I attended school diligently without ever being late, and good grades naturally followed. Even when I worked part-time, my diligent work ethic was recognized, and when it was time to leave, the boss even encouraged me to stay.
Although I lived in the Seoul metropolitan area, I grew up in a rural area where my parents raised four children—a rare feat these days—while farming vegetables. As the second of four siblings, I played the role of mediator between my older sister and younger siblings. As a child, I often fought with my older sister and frequently complained to my parents about the hardships of being the middle child. However, as I grew older, my sister and I became closer than friends, and I became a reliable support system for my younger siblings, listening to their concerns and offering guidance.
From elementary school, I served as vice president and president of my class, developing my leadership skills. I was active in the choir and served as president in sixth grade, participating in a city-wide choir competition and winning a silver award. Through helping those in need and participating in various school activities, I learned humility and consideration, and grew into a person who can get along well with others.

 

 

Growing up playing

One of my most cherished childhood memories is going for walks with my father after he finished work early and having dinner, then playing on the monkey bars and seesaw at the nearby elementary school playground. My father always told me that playing outside was the healthiest way to grow up.
On weekends, I would always go hiking with my father. When he took me hiking, he never gave up on reaching the summit, even if I got tired and needed to rest frequently. Watching him greet strangers with a smile and share the food we brought, I learned the importance of kindness and generosity. As we enjoyed the refreshing view from the summit, which only those who had overcome the hardships could experience, my father often said, “Go out into the wide world and run and play to your heart’s content.” Even as I grew older, his belief that I should play outside remained unchanged.
By running freely outdoors, hiking with my father, and enjoying cycling, I developed physical strength and grew into an outgoing person. Through hiking, I learned patience, developed a strong desire to reach the summit, and became more competitive. As a child, I simply enjoyed hearing the words “play,” but as I grew older, I came to understand that my father’s words were a wish for me to grow up healthy. Even now, when life becomes difficult, I often climb a mountain, look down at the world that appears as small as a fingernail, and gather my thoughts.

 

 

Valuing friendships with peers

From a young age, I occasionally visited my parents’ university to observe their projects and gain experience, but I also made an effort to build ordinary friendships with peers, as my parents had asked me to focus on school life. My friends would look at me in awe as I quickly solved mathematical formulas and problems, but I felt more comfortable among peers who could praise me honestly with words and expressions rather than adults who would lavish me with excessive compliments.
Additionally, seeing my parents’ close and joyful interactions with their friends, I dreamed of having friends with whom I could share my life in the same way. I loved the friendships I had with peers who looked at me not as a child with special talents to be looked up to, or as someone too young to be so smart and thus looked down upon, but rather, I cherished the friendships with peers who looked at me as equals, with similar builds and heights, and interacted with me on the same level. Perhaps from the moment I realized I had a slightly sharper mind than others, I sensed that I couldn’t blend in as an ordinary member of a group, which is why I valued friends who accepted me as an equal even more. My parents, who were mindful not to let me become too withdrawn into my own world despite my tendency to think deeply and broadly, provided me with the support that helped me develop a sense of reality that cannot be gained solely through books and research. This support served as a foundation for me to grow by directly engaging with the world around me.

 

 

Seeking diverse experiences to find my passion

To discover what I truly loved, I needed to gain a lot of experience. My parents, who worked in education, encouraged me to find what I loved and pursue it with passion rather than focusing solely on competition and aimless studying. This is why I had the opportunity to experience so many different things. As a child, I learned swimming, ballet, and piano, which helped me grow into an active person. However, I was good at everything but not exceptional at anything. This was a problem. Whenever I wanted to try something new, my parents supported me, but my interest would fade quickly, and I couldn’t stick with it for long. However, book discussion activities were different. In these classes, we read books together and discussed our opinions with peers based on the content. I would stay up late reading and preparing for these presentations. Book discussions were the activity that ignited my passion. At that time, I realized that when you approach something with passion, the results are extraordinary. I believe that reading many books at that time helped me expand my knowledge and broaden my thinking. I think it was because my parents helped me find what I loved through various experiences that I was able to feel passion. I never forget the thrill I felt through passion and approach everything with passion.

 

 

Developing an interest in various foreign languages

My parents, who run an academy, have always been very interested in education policy. Whenever there were changes in education policy, private education faced crises, so my parents always paid close attention to education policy and did a lot of work analyzing and predicting future trends. Both of my parents majored in English and taught the language, and they also dedicated their efforts to developing educational methods to help Korean students excel in English. I can say that I was the experimental subject for their efforts. Thanks to this, my English skills were far superior to those of my peers. Despite never having traveled abroad or studied with native speakers, I had no trouble communicating with foreign friends. Building on this momentum, I began studying other languages as well. Having an interest in Chinese and Japanese, I consistently pursued their study. With this passion for languages, I enrolled in a foreign language high school and majored in Russian, where I learned the language. The unique methods and fascinating writing systems captivated me. As I used multiple languages, I began to discern commonalities among them, which greatly aided in improving my language skills. Through the process of learning various languages, I believe my critical thinking skills also improved significantly. This is because I developed the ability to apply what I learned to create new ways of thinking.

 

 

Growing up with a family that has a positive mindset

My family always lives with a positive mindset. Due to my father’s job, we had to move around a lot, but I didn’t think of it as a hassle or something negative. Instead, I accepted it as an opportunity to experience different places. In fact, moving one or two times a year taught me to pack only what I need, let go of things I no longer want, and become skilled at organizing and tidying up. I believe these skills are a result of frequent moves. However, the most challenging aspect of this positive mindset was saying goodbye to friends. Saying goodbye to friends I had grown close to over the course of a year, I initially cried profusely. However, upon reflection, I realized that it wasn’t a complete farewell, so there was no need to feel so sad. There are many ways to maintain connections if one desires to do so, so there was no reason to grieve as if we were parting forever. So, I decided to cherish the connections I had made and strive to maintain them. I believe that effort is necessary for relationships to last. Even if you have feelings, if you don’t make an effort, it’s hard to meet up. Although it’s difficult to meet my friends from my study abroad days due to geographical and time constraints, I use email, phone calls, and Facebook to keep in touch with them.

 

 

Kindness and help experienced during overseas travel in childhood

When I was a child, on the day I returned from my first overseas trip with my parents, I was filled with excitement from the trip. I was completely immersed in the unfamiliar culture and food of a foreign country, and I was so busy thinking about the souvenirs I would buy for my friends and reminiscing about the past few days that I couldn’t think of anything else. Because of this, I forgot my parents’ instructions to stay put while they ran an errand, and impulsively decided to explore on my own to buy snacks with the remaining pocket money. Before the trip, I would never have dreamed of doing something like that on my own. I would have waited for my mom and dad to come back and take me home. But the excitement of just returning from my trip filled me with a strange sense of elation and courage that made me take the first step.
I managed to wander around and buy an ice cream, but with so many people coming and going, and so many gates and waiting areas that all looked the same, I couldn’t find the spot I thought I could easily return to, and my face turned pale. To my young eyes, the already large and complex airport looked like a huge castle, and I was worried that I might never find my way out and end up wandering there forever. As I wandered around trying to find a place to sit, I became even more lost, and it was an airport staff member who noticed me crying. She kindly took me to the office, looked after me, and promised to help me find my parents over the intercom. Thanks to her, I didn’t end up as a lost child in the vast airport and was able to reunite with my parents. Even now, when I think back, her kind face felt like an angel sent down from heaven, and her kindness and help were something I will always be grateful for. What could have been a nightmare on the last day of my trip became a precious and meaningful memory thanks to the angel who threw me a lifeline.

 

 

My childhood days of enjoying helping my parents at their office

Rather than just playing with my friends, I was much more focused on helping my parents at their office. My parents always made sure I didn’t neglect my friends because of my work at the office, but the significance of the receptionist work I had started as a child grew over time. I gradually gained a reputation as the office’s little star, and as more customers began to enjoy the coffee or tea I served, I secured my own place in the office. Additionally, I didn’t just do simple tasks like guiding guests to their seats or serving drinks. I also made an effort to explain things in my own words by observing and learning the knowledge and tasks my parents were doing.
Gradually, my mother began to entrust me with guiding guests, providing simple hospitality, and explaining matters, making it my primary responsibility. Despite my young age, I made efforts to ensure that I could adequately understand guests, communicate clearly, and use appropriate language to convey information effectively, striving to fulfill my role to the best of my ability. My parents trusted my abilities and entrusted me with responsibilities because they believed in me. I did not want to be the kind of person who avoids responsibilities simply because of my age. Unlike other children my age who mainly interacted with peers, teachers, and parents, I became accustomed to dealing with many adults. Over time, I developed a mature speaking style with clear pronunciation, earning praise for giving people a sense of stability. Visitors to the office often praised me for being “diligent,” and such words motivated me to strive to maintain proper conduct.

 

 

Discovering another side of myself through sports and travel

Thanks to my father, who loves sports, I had the opportunity to experience various sports from a young age. I never missed a day of physical training, including seasonal sports, morning runs, and jumping rope. My father always emphasized that exercise is the power created by movement, and that movement generates energy, which is essential for accomplishing anything. While I now recognize the value of my father’s habits, it was not easy to wake up early every morning for exercise as an adult. However, thanks to this, I developed strong physical endurance, which gave me an unmatched competitive edge in physical stamina compared to my peers during my school days, even when studying intensively or pulling all-nighters. After entering university, I decided to challenge myself with marathon running. Despite believing I had the physical strength and endurance to handle it, it was far from an easy challenge. It was the ultimate sport that required not just running but also controlling the body in a highly scientific manner. However, despite the challenges, marathon running is a battle against oneself, and the sense of accomplishment upon finishing is something that cannot be replaced by anything else. I still participate in two marathon races a year, and during the preparation period, I challenge myself and renew my resolve.
Another thing that has greatly influenced my life is travel. My first backpacking trip after entering university was another challenge for me. As it was my first solo trip as an adult, I was filled with both fear and anticipation. The excitement of seeing world heritage sites, museums, and art galleries that I had only seen in books, coupled with the anxiety of wondering what would happen if something went wrong in such a distant place, made the long flight feel endless. These worries vanished the moment I arrived at the local airport, and by the time I returned after three months of backpacking, I was already planning my next trip with a sense of regret. Traveling was not only a meaningful experience of visiting significant places but also a new and enriching experience of sharing diverse cultures with fellow travelers from around the world and discovering a new side of myself. Even now, I often exchange greetings with the Spanish friend I met on that first trip via Facebook and email. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to that place or when my friend will be able to visit Korea, but we share the news that we’re doing well, cherishing those memories as friends connected across the world.

 

 

Following my parents to art museums and dreaming of becoming a designer

As a child, I often visited art museums with my parents. My parents, who collected art as a hobby, had a deep appreciation for art. I think it was during those visits that I began to dream of becoming a designer. Once, at the invitation of my mother’s acquaintance, I attended a fashion show. There, I was completely captivated by the charm of design. The way the models and lighting were enhanced by design was what truly impressed me. That experience solidified my resolve to create works that would evoke a sense of wonder in those who see them.
I had access to numerous books related to art and design. This was because there were so many books on one wall of my study that it was filled with specialized texts. I not only read those books but also studied domestic and international design collections to keep up with current trends. Additionally, I frequently attended seminars and exhibitions, which made me realize the importance of foreign languages and motivated me to study English diligently. While attending a specialized design academy, I organized study groups with like-minded friends. Believing that creativity is essential in design, I developed the habit of jotting down ideas whenever inspiration struck. This is because if I didn’t immediately jot down a sudden idea, I would completely forget it later. I believe the scope of design is vast. Since developing a passion for design, I have tried to design my own life. I believe the efforts I made to design a beautiful life have shaped who I am today. I aspire to become a skilled designer with creative and open-minded thinking.